Democratic Primaries

MineralMan

(146,318 posts) Sat May 4, 2019, 10:42 AM May 2019

So Many Democratic Candidates - So Little Time

For the 2020 primary season, we have an extraordinary wealth of candidates vying for the nomination. Why is that? It's not the usual pattern. Perhaps the reason dates back to the 2016 Republican primary season.

There were something like 16 Republican candidates in the early running for that party's nomination. Some big names were included, along with many who most people didn't usually think about as presidential material. It was, as we all mentioned, a "Clown Car of Candidates."

Well, to pretty much everyone's surprise, the biggest clown of all, Donald J. "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat" Trump ended up with the nomination and, through some Russian trickery and inattention on the part of Democrats, ended up in the White House.

Who would have predicted that back in May of 2015?

A very unlikely candidate emerged as the nominee on the Republican side, while we Democrats had a far shorter candidate list.

For the 2020 race, there are names in the list of candidates that few people even recognize and who are pretty much unknown in national politics. Why? Because of what happened in the 2016 Republican race. One of the most unlikely possible candidates won, so perhaps our long list this year is based on the hope that will happen again. Folks are still jumping in, and the list is well above 20 now.

Will we choose a surprise candidate to be our nominee in 2020? I doubt it, but hope springs eternal in the minds of men and women who seek the highest office in the land.

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

8 replies

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Highlight:

So Many Democratic Candidates - So Little Time (Original Post) MineralMan May 2019 OP

It's difficult to choose "just one" ... so my process is to begin by ELIMINATING the worst. NurseJackie May 2019 #1

I've already eliminated a pantload of them from my consideration. MineralMan May 2019 #2

I think name recognition might count for more than usual this time The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #3

The only similarity I find is in the numbers LakeArenal May 2019 #4

Yes. Our list is full of capable individuals with the right ideas. MineralMan May 2019 #6

Personally DownriverDem May 2019 #5

I like that ticket, too. I think it is, perhaps, the strongest MineralMan May 2019 #7

Why are so many declaring? uawchild May 2019 #8

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)

1. It's difficult to choose "just one" ... so my process is to begin by ELIMINATING the worst.

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat May 4, 2019, 10:46 AM

May 2019

It's difficult to choose "just one" ... so my process is to begin by ELIMINATING the worst. So far, I've eliminated TWO from consideration.

Three others are right on the edge, but could save themselves with something extraordinary. That leaves 16 or so. It's going to be an interesting primary, that's for sure.

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

MineralMan

(146,318 posts)

2. I've already eliminated a pantload of them from my consideration.

Reply to NurseJackie (Reply #1)

Sat May 4, 2019, 10:49 AM

May 2019

Still, the list is long enough to cause confusion. I'm pretty sure it will winnow itself down to the actual grain before too long, and certainly by March 4, 2020, the day after Super Tuesday. I just find the number of candidates to be very interesting, with new ones adding their names to the bottom of the list even now.

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

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,755 posts)

3. I think name recognition might count for more than usual this time

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat May 4, 2019, 11:04 AM

May 2019

for no reason other than there are so many names to keep track of. A few of the relatively unknowns will pull ahead on account of some unusual quality that makes them stand out (O'Rourke and Buttigieg, for example), while vanity candidates like Williamson and Yang will drop out early when they run out of money. It's possible that so many have signed up this time because they are hoping to be that unknown, unlikely candidate who won against all odds, but it's just as likely that they're doing it to try to get national recognition to enhance their existing careers, shore up support for their next election, or if they're super lucky, get picked as the winner's running mate.

Trump was a black swan event. Like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody ever expected him. To repeat such an occurrence on the Dem side the winning candidate would have to be Marianne Williamson (though I don't think she's evil), and I don't see that happening.

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

LakeArenal

(28,826 posts)

4. The only similarity I find is in the numbers

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat May 4, 2019, 11:08 AM

May 2019

The quality is far superior now.
The universal “likability” of almost all our candidates and the Democrats approval for most of the candidates is completely different from 2016.

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

MineralMan

(146,318 posts)

6. Yes. Our list is full of capable individuals with the right ideas.

Reply to LakeArenal (Reply #4)

Sat May 4, 2019, 11:12 AM

May 2019

That's a good thing. There are far too many of them, though. That's not so good.

However, I'm sure it will sort itself out OK.

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

DownriverDem

(6,229 posts)

5. Personally

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat May 4, 2019, 11:09 AM

May 2019

I think too many folks are running. Who can beat trump? Biden/Harris would be a formidable ticket.

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

MineralMan

(146,318 posts)

7. I like that ticket, too. I think it is, perhaps, the strongest

Reply to DownriverDem (Reply #5)

Sat May 4, 2019, 11:12 AM

May 2019

one available right now.

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

uawchild

(2,208 posts)

8. Why are so many declaring?

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat May 4, 2019, 11:53 AM

May 2019

Is it just trying to get more name recognition?

Is it somehow related to fundraising? Can they transfer what they raise to their regular campaign war chest or something?

Is it about winning the lottery and being selected as VP?

I dunno. Seems so strange,
there must be an underlying payoff for them I am missing.

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

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