Candidate positives and negatives

[redqueen]

Why do you support your candidate / why don't you support others? Have you switched support since the start, and if so, why?

I'm just curious what issues or characteristics are most important to other DUers.


I'll start. I originally supported Bernie when he announced in Feb. I had supported him before and would also have been excited about about Warren but she wasn't running back then.

Sometime in the spring I started reading about UBI, and through that research found out about Yang. During the summer I switched support based on his clarity on automation and other technology issues, UBI, information from Equal Citizens, and his willingness to work to win back Trump's Obama voters.

I would (of course) be more than happy to vote for any of our candidates. That said, my main reasons for supporting Yang over other great candidates stem mainly from the idea of electability. I think many swing and independent voters have more of an anti-establishment mindset than rank and file Dems, so I prefer a candidate who would more easily win them over. I also worry about some of the baggage that some of our candidates have and how that might affect independents and swing voters, as well as new voters.


And for anyone fond of using rude and childish insults against candidates or their supporters, please do feel free to not participate, or if you do, please take a break with the toxicity - would love to have a civil discussion, thanks.

[Humanist_Activist]

1. Warren supporter...

Was a Bernie supporter in last election, now a Warren supporter though it is very, very close.

I was a Bernie supporter because I believe strongly in having a strong Social Democracy instituted in this country to give the working class a larger piece of the pie that the capitalists have been taking more of over the years. Social mobility is pretty much gone, wages have been stagnant my entire life(and I'm fucking 41!), and unionization is way down.

I'm a Warren supporter for the same reasons, but also feel that she's more electable because I feel quite a few Bernie supporters, with help from some Clinton supporters, poisoned the well of support for him last time around. Far to much vitriol and irrational hatreds that carries over all over the place. I feel this has hurt his chances at winning the nomination.

So that edges her as top candidate, if only barely.

To be honest, I'm an anti-capitalist Socialist, an actual socialist, not a social Democrat like Bernie or AOC are policy-wise. So any candidate, even Warren, is moderate in my view. In fact, I would say that they should be where the center of the Democratic Party should be. But I also think that Warren(or Sanders) are going to be useful in raising class consciousness to the forefront, something that has been woefully lacking in American politics for a long time. We need an actual labor party in this country for once, not just one that pays lip service to labor when convenient. I hope either candidate becomes a useful tool in this endeavor, even if they fail to get the nomination.

[redqueen]

4. I strongly agree with many of your points.

And I think the country is definitely headed in that direction. But the super rich are of course doing everything in their power to slow it down.

[question everything]

2. Klobuchar

Because she is a moderate from the Midwest. Because I think that most of the voters, not just Democratic activists, want someone who would govern the country to the benefit of all and not start with "revolutions" and freebies with no clear idea of who to pay for them.

Because she knows how government works, how to pass bills in Congress. In a five-year period from 2014 to 2018, according to GovTrack.us, Sen. Klobuchar’s co-sponsor 1,967 bills—more than any other senator except Connecticut’s Richard Blumenthal. Another study, conducted in 2016, ranked her No. 1 in the Senate in lending her name to bills that were enacted into law.

Because she has spent time in corporate world, she knows the importance of corporations in the lives of millions of us, as opposed to looking at the world from the windows of academia and politics.

Because she won all the districts in Minnesota that went to Trump, that still support him.

Because she is from the Midwest and not a coastie who do not understand life in rural America.

And, yes, because she does not paint our opponents - foreign and domestic - as evil, but is willing to meet and talk to them.

Yes, being a woman is a nice bonus, but not the main one.

[redqueen]

5. She definitely has a very common sense appeal. nt

[TwilightZone]

3. "many swing and independent voters have more of an anti-establishment mindset "

The assertion of a recent "anti-establishment" trend is mostly a myth. It doesn't show up in real-world races, at least not at the Congressional level.

Reelection rates in 2016 and 2018, for example, were equal to or higher than the past few respective cycles. 2016, plugged by many, many people as an anti-establishment election cycle, had a higher incumbency win rate in both the House and the Senate than any cycle since 2004.

Independent voters are part of that. They constitute a larger portion of the electorate than either party, though most of them are partisan, of course. If there was or is a wide-scale shift toward anti-establishment in Independents, it doesn't translate to actual races.

Sources:

https://ballotpedia.org/2018_election_analysis:_Incumbent_win_rates_by_state

https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/reelect.php

[redqueen]

8. Agreed for the house and Senate and downballot races.

Most people show up every four years. Midterms are typically much lower turnout. The voters in those cases are usually the type I'm not talking about.

The ones who are more disengaged and more likely to gravitate to an outsider candidate would be the ones who only show up every four years.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Undecided.

In alphabetical order (not everyone is included):

1. Biden - Pro: Strong support among black voters, probably strongest of all candidates on foreign policy, connection with Obama, well-known, still polling as strongest against Trump. Con: Age, perception of gaffiness (though it looks like a lot can be attributed to stuttering problem), some controversial votes and positions as senator.

2. Booker pro: Compelling personal story and resume, solid experience, oozes sincerity. Con: Can't seem to catch on. Some intemperate remarks during debates.

3. Buttigieg pro: Scary smart and quick on his feet, unflappable, veteran, Midwestern. Con: Young, small-city mayor, relative lack of experience, little support from black community. Being gay probably not a problem because people who won't vote for him because he's gay wouldn't vote for him because he's a Democrat.

4. Gabbard: No pros, all cons. No need to explain.

5. Harris pro: Smart, enthusiastic, tough, lots of passion, relatable, ability to attract PoC voters. Con: Doesn't seem to be getting as much traction as expected; some controversial actions as a prosecutor.

6. Klobuchar pro: Sensible, smart, consistent, believable, very productive as senator, could attract midwestern voters. Con: Like Harris, some controversial actions as prosecutor, rumors of being a bad boss, maybe too middle-of-the-road for some.

7. Sanders pro: Devoted fan base, lots of money. Con: Age and health issues; shouty and angry demeanor, unrealistic proposals. Controversial Stein-voter campaign staff.

8. Warren pro: Sincere, passionate, thorough, relates well to women. Con: M4A ideas not popular nationally; sometimes sounds like Oprah giving away cars. Might not do well in the Midwest.

9. Yang pro: Some interesting ideas that deserve attention. Con: Businessman with no political/government experience of any kind.

[question everything]

7. LOL "sometimes sounds like Oprah giving away cars"

Thanks for making my day. I needed this.

[redqueen]

10. LOL @ Tulsi

I think pretty much every politically informed and engaged Dem is on the same page there.

Nice thorough list 👍

[LanternWaste]

9. I've got a three-way tie between Biden, Harris and Warren.

But I can only vote for one of them. I think Warren would be the best policy wonk as Pres the nation has ever seen. I think Harris would reinvigorate the electorate as not seen since Kennedy. Both would be fantastic in the office, and I'd be more than happy to vote for them. Hell, I'll be more than happy to vote for any Democratic candidate.

But at the end of the day, Biden's positions on the electorate, the climate, the economy, and the role of the US in the international relations best represent my own views.

[redqueen]

11. Do you vote on/before super Tuesday?

Most likely a few will have dropped out by then.

[AngelicaHora]

12. Still deciding between Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Warren

I like Buttigieg because of his intellect, erudition and eloquence. He is by far the most "presidential" of the field. I also appreciate that he's someone who has had to make a lot of tough decisions as an executive in government, and was still able to maintain a high approval rating. His more pragmatic yet progressive policy proposals are in line with my own views. I like that he doesn't shy away from articulating painful truths and can admit it when he falls short. In terms of personality and record he will be the most difficult opponent for the Republicans.

Unfortunately he is still very young and while he embraces his lack of Washington experience, it does give me some pause. Someone who knows the ins and outs of Washington probably has a better idea of how to fix it. He also has a problem attracting minority support, and while I am certain it's a problem he will eventually overcome, it requires padding his résumé with some less controversial experience.

Klobuchar is also very intelligent and pragmatic, with a record of getting things done in difficult circumstances. I think she has the ideal age and level of experience. She would be a very strong candidate in most of the swing states.

But she is not that charismatic or inspiring. We need structural change in order to prevent a Trump-like figure from rising again and I'm not convinced it's a priority for her. Her history of being abusive to staff can also be exploited.

Warren used to be my favorite. Her incredibly detailed plans, the breadth of Washington know-how. I was pleased I had found my candidate so quickly. But the past few months have been incredibly disappointing. I don't even mind that she pivoted away from Medicare For All, but the way she did it and the plan she landed on proved to me that she's just not a good politician. She's exhibited this strange fear of saying things that will turn into negative sound bites, resulting in a lot of waffling and even outright lies. These days she also seems to talk more like a kindergarten teacher than a university professor. And she's always been the most attackable in a general election. She still has time to win me back, and I still trust her the most when it comes to successfully upgrading our government and economy, but I dread putting her up against Trump.

Biden is a solid candidate on paper, a typical Democrat. But he is simply too old, and his mind sometimes seems stuck in decades past.

I appreciate Sanders' passion and fight and his decades of experience in Congress. But I don't think we need a revolution to get out of the trouble we're in, and I don't want us to end up in a situation where a revolution is required. Aside from that, his senior campaign hires tend to be very problematic people and I don't want people like that in a presidential administration. His age and health are also a concern.

Harris hasn't been able to convince me that she's got what it takes. Her campaign is a mess, her messaging inconsistent, her debates wobbly. I'm not sure why she's doing this and what she's hoping to achieve.

Yang is a likable guy with interesting ideas but I haven't seen many leadership qualities in him. He has no government experience, no record to examine. Being president is so much more than having big ideas.

[question everything]

13. What a wonderful, insight and well articulated point of view

What a great addition to DU.

Welcome!