Democratic Primaries

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

12. It's about having 20 or so candidates

Wed Apr 10, 2019, 05:12 PM

Apr 2019

an historically large field. What happens is that votes get very split, and oddball results can ensue. I predict that unless we can get a bunch of candidates to drop out after the early races,* we will have a brokered convention, since no candidate will be able to gain the requisite number of delegates to gain the nomination. There will have to be horse trading and/or superdelegate intervention. A mess.

* The problem with this (as we unhappily learned in 2016), is that candidates who have no path to full victory can still obstinately stay in the race if they manage to raise a bunch of money from their supporters. Why is this a problem? Because such supporter blocs do not represent the larger body of Democratic voters.

See this article, with explanatory graphics, from today's NYT, which shows what kinds and numbers of people actually donate to Democratic campaigns. It's fascinating:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/08/upshot/democratic-electorate-twitter-real-life.html

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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I fear the primaries will not give us the best candidate. [View all] Rustynaerduwell Apr 2019 OP

Well it's the system we have Sherman A1 Apr 2019 #1

I was thinking this after I heard Swallwell jumped in. woodsprite Apr 2019 #2

The truth is that there are only four or five strong candidates now. comradebillyboy Apr 2019 #23

I think some will drop out when fundraising comes up way short of what they want. Blue_true Apr 2019 #29

Agree.. if you look at it realistically several will drop out for the obvious low or no vote totals Thekaspervote Apr 2019 #52

Also how we ended up with Jimmy Carter. brooklynite Apr 2019 #40

That keeps me up at night exboyfil Apr 2019 #3

"I don't think Sanders is a winning candidate" handmade34 Apr 2019 #13

Your analysis is correct about "most different" jberryhill Apr 2019 #4

"more extreme and less electable who are running." WeekiWater Apr 2019 #5

I totally agree. Dems are thinking of personal choice Irishxs Apr 2019 #6

So if you don't trust voters hurl Apr 2019 #7

Ranked preference voting jberryhill Apr 2019 #26

This is what democracy looks like. aikoaiko Apr 2019 #8

I kind of like the big field.. stillcool Apr 2019 #9

I don't understand this logic sacto95834 Apr 2019 #10

It's about having 20 or so candidates frazzled Apr 2019 #12

Many Candidates.... sacto95834 Apr 2019 #25

It doesn't matter who we select. We need to just all pledge to vote for whoever gets KPN Apr 2019 #11

The fighting here is already fierce customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #14

The Issue for Harris, Warren and Klobuchar is We Have 3 Good Women Candidates not Charisma. Indykatie Apr 2019 #18

Well, I do find customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #30

Klobuchar is charismatic and Harris has some charisma Awsi Dooger Apr 2019 #76

Republicans want moderates to stay home to help Trump win Indygram Apr 2019 #16

+ 10000 Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #47

I'm not so sure about Beto myself in that regard. Biden, definitely, but I'm not convinced about KPN Apr 2019 #60

The road to victory is through the rustbelt. Elect the person who can do that in the primary. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #48

I'm not Worried if Biden Jumps In because I think He Wins But.................... Indykatie Apr 2019 #15

It is vital Democrats lgrnwd Apr 2019 #17

The problem we don't know, collectively at least, who has the best chance. marylandblue Apr 2019 #21

I agree we don't know yet lgrnwd Apr 2019 #24

Looking at polls won't help much...look at who can win in states we need. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #70

Sure we do. We need PA,WI and MI to stop Trump. Biden has the best chance...the Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #69

No, that's just your opinion. We know that millions of Democrats disagree at the moment marylandblue Apr 2019 #72

Well if we nominate someone else and we lose consider we would have won Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #73

The problem you are having is that "Electibility" is not a valid criteria. marylandblue Apr 2019 #19

It is the only thing that matters, a candidate could walk on water be pure....the Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #32

It's not valid because it 's used as a proxy for something else. marylandblue Apr 2019 #34

Have you visited the rustbelt where we must win? Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #35

Yes I've been there but that's not really the point. marylandblue Apr 2019 #39

They won't vote for a candidate on the left. And geography plays a roll Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #43

Ok but make that argument explicitly, and also note the failures of "electibility" marylandblue Apr 2019 #46

That is electability. I have talked about the need to rebuild the blue wall over and over Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #49

I think he has weaknesses that will become more apparent as time goes on. marylandblue Apr 2019 #51

Well I hope not as he is probably our only chance. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #54

I am absolutely certain he his not our only chance. marylandblue Apr 2019 #58

Name someone who can win the rustbelt...Sanders wont as he will be painted Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #62

I can name several people who I think can win marylandblue Apr 2019 #63

Give me names and yes I will point out perceived flaws . Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #64

What about Biden's perceived flaws, then? marylandblue Apr 2019 #66

Flawes don't doom anyone,..it is a matter who can win states we need to win. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #74

2016 was a different election. Our candidate was demonized and our own people Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #53

You want to to believe that but it is not true. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #44

And looking for solutions that meet their needs... is just talk. It is always about ideology Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #45

Sherrod Brown is a progressive who wins in Ohio. marylandblue Apr 2019 #50

He is an incumbent and he doesn't run on progressive issues but as a friend to Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #56

I always thought working class issues as progressive issues marylandblue Apr 2019 #59

He has not advanced the theory that they need to be destroyed. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #65

It used to be . But support of bad trade agreements have eroded trust. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #67

Is Biden going to run against the trade agreements he once marylandblue Apr 2019 #71

I doubt it. After some stumbles including voting for NAFTA ( he regretted), Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #75

I consider that more of positive than any argument about percieved electability marylandblue Apr 2019 #77

We will have a fantastic candidate. It's going to be a bumpy ride, though. Politicub Apr 2019 #20

What should we do? Aaron Pereira Apr 2019 #22

i love all (almost all) of them..why cant they just co parent the country? samnsara Apr 2019 #27

I disagree. Blue_true Apr 2019 #28

I think Biden and Mayor Pete will keep Sanders from winning the nomination. Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #33

Actually Lazy Daisy Apr 2019 #31

It doesn't matter who is blamed Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #37

Which will happen if Bernie is the nominee, namahage Apr 2019 #57

Why would that happen? MineralMan Apr 2019 #36

I'm retro, I actually like the old smoke filled room method. marylandblue Apr 2019 #41

Although I've been part of the Democratic Party organization MineralMan Apr 2019 #42

I vastly prefer the old smoke-filled room method Awsi Dooger Apr 2019 #78

You mean like they did in the last election? EOM tiredtoo Apr 2019 #38

We need a moderate, centrist candidate with experience. doompatrol39 Apr 2019 #55

2016 had nothing to do with moderate vs progressive. And sanders would have lost the general... Demsrule86 Apr 2019 #68

Then why are people on here saying we need to nominate a moderate? doompatrol39 Apr 2019 #80

Weed out get the red out Apr 2019 #61

FDR Remembrance HopeAgain Apr 2019 #79