Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumBefore supporting any candidate, I believe one should do this thought experiment.
Consider the following two groups:
Group 1: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump
Group 2: Bob Dole, Al Gore, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton
Now pick your favorite primary candidate and ask yourself, just from the gut, which group would you sort them into?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
walkingman
(7,627 posts)Their polical party pretty much defines them as far as I'm concerned. The only one that doesn't apply is Trump who is not only an asshole but a disgusting asshole.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,989 posts)But yes, winners vs. losers... and the winners were the more charismatic personalities.
Here's a question in return: Of our 20-ish candidates, who do you think has enough charisma to clearly make it into the first group?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,592 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,989 posts)I think Romney was as much of an outsider as Clinton (both governors... in fact Romney just a single term); and while GWB could be in that group, the fact that he was the son of GHWB kind of negates that, I think.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,592 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,989 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueMississippi
(776 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Mouth
(3,150 posts)-Beto
-Pete
-Booker
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
crazytown
(7,277 posts)and presidency.
Dole: 1980, 1987, 1996
Gore: 1988, 1992, 2000
McCain: 2000, 2008
Romney: 2008, 2012
HRC: 2008, 2016
Biden: 1988, 2008, 2020
Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump all won with their first campaign.
My candidate Warren, is group one.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Otto Lidenbrock
(581 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
crazytown
(7,277 posts)Biden could join them, if he wins.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TygrBright
(20,760 posts)Does that make Group 2 better than Group 1?
Mind you, putting John McCain in the "successes" category in Group 2 is a triumph of lifelong sincere dedication to public service over a shortish period of end-justifies-the-means opportunism and compromise, and the balance was pretty even for a bit there... but overall I'd say it was a life of humanity (albeit one making choices I wouldn't have made) making sacrifices for larger good.
Unfortunately Bill Clinton, while all too human, allowed his flaws to dictate far too many opportunistic end-justifies-the-means calculations to really be called a success, either.
Not actually sure what you're getting at, here?
curiously,
Bright
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
crazytown
(7,277 posts)Group 2: Two or more primary campaigns - fell short.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TygrBright
(20,760 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
IronLionZion
(45,450 posts)So we can't just win, we have to win big in enough states to win the electoral college.
America elected a wheelchair-bound socialist and a conservative Hollywood actor in record landslides before so anything can happen.
We all thought Hillary would be in Group 1 and Dumpy a small footnote in Group 2 but voters decided to "shake things up".
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,252 posts)and Reagan had been governor.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
IronLionZion
(45,450 posts)Sounds like socialism
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,252 posts)even Reagan
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DrFunkenstein
(8,745 posts)If you think about it long enough, you will realize that it has no relevance whatsoever.
But keep in mind that the country is not ready for a Catholic president, so don't waste your vote on John Kennedy unless you want Nixon to win.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JI7
(89,252 posts)its easier for republicans to cheat.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Clash City Rocker
(3,396 posts)And indicators suggest there may be a recession coming.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elocs
(22,582 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
peggysue2
(10,830 posts)Group 1--Bill Clinton: It's the economy, Stupid and I feel your pain; GW: they guy you'd like to have a beer with, compassionate conservative; Barack Obama: Yes, we can, perceived as The One; Donald Trump: appeals/appealed to the those left behind in the global economy, a self-proclaimed billionaire with a Barnum & Bailey presentation, Only I can solve your problems.
Group 2--Only John McCain had the spark of likability, the renegade. But even that was diminished once he ran and chose the ridiculously uninformed Sarah Palin as a running mate. Sadly, Hillary Clinton was savaged by right and left-wing smears and innuendo, enough that her likability went well underwater. Same with Al Gore. Bob Dole and Mitt Romney were perceived as flat, stiff personalities, not terribly likable.
So, my current choice of Joe Biden as our nominee falls into Group 1. Say what you will about Biden but he is manifestly likable to a large swath of the Democratic electorate, even with his warts and flaws. And likability holds a mysterious sway over voters, that need to identify with a candidate on a personal, emotional level. Biden does the personal, emotional stuff easily because it's part of who and what he is.
Is that the only factor? Of course not. Just one more thread in voting preferences, IMHO.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
HeartlandProgressive
(294 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided