Changing my preference to Warren.

[MH1]

Truthfully, I like both Joe and Liz, but I can only pick one here. I could go back to "undecided", but since I am down to two that I feel strongly in favor of, and we are close to the first primaries, I felt I had to pick one.

I was backing Steyer here for a while. I think he has a lot to offer, but it's been clear for some time that he is going nowhere in the prez primary. So again, with first primaries upon us, it is time to make a real choice.

Why Warren, not Joe? I think, all other factors being equal, Joe is inherently stronger against Trump in the GE. But all other factors aren't equal. I don't have actual numbers but sense from my experience with people IRL, Warren would be a far preferable choice for Sanders supporters than Biden. We need that energy in the campaign, and keeping those folks in the fold helps build the party for the next generation. (I don't agree with their assessment of Biden, by the way, but I'm a big fan of reality-based decision-making.)

Also, the "first choice Warren" voters I've met IRL are almost universally respectful and supportive of Biden as a solid choice, recognizing the need to beat Trump is absolutely the essential goal here. Policy platforms are good for knowing the candidate's governing philosophy, but get real, without the Presidency AND the Senate, it will be tough even to get good judges on the bench let alone pass progressive legislation. Someone with Warren's persona (and Biden's too) has a better shot to unite the country behind moving forward on some goals, even if only a little compared with where we want to go. Moving forward a little, is massively better than going backwards at light-speed, as we do under continued reign of Trumpism. So, the flexible and congenial nature of her supporters, combined with very progressive legislative philosophy, helps me make this selection. (Again, reflecting just my personal experience, I don't count DU for judgments like this so I am not speaking of DU members)

Either way, of course in the General Election I will vote for the nominee. I hope and do believe it will be either Joe or Liz.

[Rorey]

1. If Biden wins the nomination

I'm confident that Senator Warren will quickly endorse him. She would also throw her full support behind any other candidate who would win the nomination.

It won't take her four weeks.

If Warren were to somehow win the nomination, I'm not so sure she'd have the quick endorsement of Sanders and the support of his supporters. JMO

[MH1]

2. I hear ya. But, I get a very different sense this time

from the sane Bernie supporters I know with respect to Warren, vs how they feel about Biden. The "if it's Biden" vibe from these folks is very similar to the "if it's Hillary" vibe in 2016. These (sane) people of course voted for Hillary, but they did not work hard or help much with the way they spoke about her to others. In contrast, the vibe with "if it's Warren" is much more like disappointment, but with "we can work with this". These (sane) people would not need Sanders to tell them to support her and canvas for her - they will do it because they believe they can make progress with her; even if not as much (in their opinion) as with Sanders.

This is strictly based on my personal experience so it may not be representative across the country. But it's what I have to go with. And if I'm right, I think it's an important factor for both this election (which will be tough regardless) and for future elections - especially the local and state elections that "build the bench".

Joe is great and I will enthusiastically support him if he wins the nomination. My state has a late primary so the calculation may be quite different by the time I actually get to vote. But my first choice today has to be Warren.

[Baclava]

3. Great choice! Welcome aboard, its a long, !ong, long way to the convention, dream big n/t

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Welcome!

[gibraltar72]

5. Welcome aboard.

[Brainstormy]

6. Good for you! n/t

[BlueMTexpat]

7. Welcome!

Thanks also for your rationale!

[karynnj]

8. I'm in almost the same place as you, but decided to remain undecided until I strongly support one

or the other. To some degree, I think Warren is the more likely to be the more exciting nominee and the one far better thinking on her feet in response to unexpected questions.

I did find the argument of Biden's contacts and experience compelling, but I also think that the idea that knowing every leader is essential for the important things that need to be done on climate change and foreign policy. I assume that anyone, Biden included, might employ the model Obama used in 2009 of selecting many accomplished Democratic foreign policy experts to simultaneously deal with the enormous number of challenges in the world.

With that model, the Democratic President would have a large number of foreign policy voices informing her/his decisions. In that case, the question is could I see reason to believe that the person has the temperament to pull this diverse group together to brain storm what should be done - and once informed have the ability to take in all of these opinions and the comfort level to then make the informed decisions needed. I honestly think Warren has shown those types of abilities -- maybe more so than Biden. ( Remember watching Biden chairing the SFRC?)

[MH1]

10. Yes I remember :)

The rationale in my OP & a response above, is the only thing that tipped me to Warren - the potential for keeping some of the younger, further left voters "in the fold". That's important not just for the presidential election but for other future elections.

Everything you said is relevant too. I will have zero trouble supporting Biden if he is the nominee.

I would like to see Biden and Warren as the last two standing as it goes to the convention. I think that bodes the best for us in November.

[Amimnoch]

9. No blame at all.

Frankly if I could wave a magic wand and select the next President, my hardest choice would be between Warren and Buttigieg. Adore both of them.