# 2008--Who are the possible Democratic Candidates for Prexy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 9, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010 "2006-08-09T15:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/1 "2006-08-09T15:16:17Z")
A good list of possible Democratic candidates for President would not be premature. Names? ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/2 "2006-08-09T15:36:29Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > A good list of possible Democratic candidates for President would not be premature. > > Names? Clinton, Lieberman, Kerry to name a few. Hillary probably has the best chance of nomination, no cite. Although nobody confirms it, of course. Hell, if you want you can throw in Al Sharpton. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/3 "2006-08-09T15:38:03Z")
Wasn’t there a thread a while back bandying about Mark Warner? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/4 "2006-08-09T16:01:43Z")
Kerry isn’t likely; parties don’t usually renominate losers (Nixon was a special case). Leiberman just lost his party, and did poorly in 2004, so he’s not likely, either. Hillary is very likely; as is Warner. Gore might get a second look – he did win the popular vote in 2000, and his movie has put him back in the public eye. Sharpton would run to get attention. Other than that, who knows? Barak Obama will run eventually, not not in 2008; Eliot Spitzer may run in 2012 if he’s elected governor of New York this year (which seems likely). ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/5 "2006-08-09T16:16:12Z")
From [an online poll](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/3/235338/6917): #1 - Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (NC) … 31.2% #2 - Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN) … 29.3% #3 - Sen. Russ Feingold (WI) … 11.8% #4 - Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA) … 11.7% #5 - Other (Bayh, Biden, Hillary Clinton, Daschle, Dodd, Kerry, Richardson, etc.) … 6.6% #6 - Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (AR) … 4.9% #7 - Sen. Barack Obama (IL) … 2.7% #8 - Rep. John Lewis (GA) … 1.1% #9 - Gov. Ed Rendell ¶ … .8% ---
**Author:** ![Zahava424](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/76d3ee/32.png) [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/6 "2006-08-09T16:53:50Z")
Clinton will run, but too many people may hate her for her to be electable. I’m not sure. Warner is a likely candidate. Wesley Clark has a shot as someone with bipartisan appeal and military experience. Lieberman? I’m amazed at how fast he’s gone down in flames. No shot. Russ Feingold- As much as it pains me to say so, because I’m a big fan, he’s too liberal for the Democrats to nominate. I doubt they think he’s electable. Gore keeps saying he doesn’t want to run again. I’m inclined to believe him-- I haven’t seen him make pandering speeches in New Hampshire, Iowa, or South Carolina recently, as the others have been, and he hasn’t been raising money as far as I know. I think the speculation is mostly wishful thinking- Democrats saying, _See? We SHOULD have gone with the guy who won that election. And he looks so much cuter without the beard!_ John Edwards- Based on what? He was a Freshman senator when he was a VP candidate and hasn’t done anything significant since. He’s a nice guy with a decent TV presence and no obvious black marks, but he doesn’t have the clout or experience. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/7 "2006-08-09T17:05:24Z")
I suspect strongly that Al Gore will be a strong contender. He’s garnered a lot of respect for the things he’s been doing the past few years, got the popular majority in 2000, and _arguably_ should have gotten the Presidency. (Please do **not** hijack this thread into the Bush/Gore Election 2000 Debate, Part XLVII; I’m stating this because it’s an argument for his candidacy that has or will have convinced a fair proportion of Democrats that he’s a viable candidate, not to rehash old issues.) I have strong doubts about Edwards. Certainly he’s ambitious enough to try again, but the local daily is a Democratic-oriented, highly-respected-journalistically publication that has carried absolutely no Edwards news. If he’s positioning himself for 2008, he’s doing it so subtly that nobody is aware of it. I don’t believe Obama will get the nomination, but I expect his candidacy for it to become quite strong over the next year or so. While Kerry may express interest, I don’t believe he will be a viable candidate, with any significant support outside his home state. Expect at least one “dark horse” from a Summer 2006 perspective – someone who moves into strong contention out of relative anonymity at the present time, over the next 18 months. See Howard Dean try again but fail to pick up significant support. (And it serves him right – nobody’s mismanaged a groundswell of support worse than he did in '04 since Dewey in '48.) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/8 "2006-08-09T17:11:14Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I have strong doubts about Edwards. Certainly he’s ambitious enough to try again, but the local daily is a Democratic-oriented, highly-respected-journalistically publication that has carried absolutely no Edwards news. If he’s positioning himself for 2008, he’s doing it so subtly that nobody is aware of it. Sheesh. The point to this rambling discursus about the _News and Observer_ was that it’s the paper in the city where Edwards lives and works – if **anybody** had Edwards news, it would be the N&O. And it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/9 "2006-08-09T17:15:22Z")
“Prexy?” When did that become an abbreviation for “President?” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/10 "2006-08-09T17:27:17Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > “Prexy?” When did that become an abbreviation for “President?” I first started to see it in conjunction with political cartoons that dated to the 1950s. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/11 "2006-08-09T17:41:40Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > “Prexy?” When did that become an abbreviation for “President?” > **[prexy | Search Online Etymology Dictionary](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=prexy)** > > The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible... > [@](#): > > 1871, slang (headlinese) contraction of president. Alternate form prex is attested from 1828. How is this a GQ, BTW? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/12 "2006-08-09T17:44:06Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > How is this a GQ, BTW? It looks like just a “list possible Democratic candidates” thread, not a “debate who’d be good” one. Has anyone thrown their hat in the ring? Is anyone touring the country? Getting campaign funds? All these questions have factual answers. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/13 "2006-08-09T18:10:34Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > It looks like just a “list possible Democratic candidates” thread, not a “debate who’d be good” one. Has anyone thrown their hat in the ring? Is anyone touring the country? Getting campaign funds? All these questions have factual answers. Precisely why I put it here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/14 "2006-08-09T22:51:12Z")
The question is not designed for the intent of General Questions. Too open ended, and potentially charged. Let’s swing over to Great Debates. It’s a start. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![swissmtndog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@swissmtndog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swissmtndog)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/15 "2006-08-09T23:47:48Z")
Edwards was the first guy I thought of. He’s made many visits to Iowa, has a good monetary support group (trial lawyers). Gore would be a good competitor, if he runs…I think the online poll has the two obvious choices at the top, makes sense. I doubt Hilary runs. I’m really not sure who else could win the nomination if any of the above three get in the race, Edwards is pretty much the only fairly sure bet to run. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/16 "2006-08-10T00:31:06Z")
I **wish** I could believe it will be Dean – he’s no liberal but he’s closer than any of the other likely frontrunners. My WAG: Gore. (If only [Bernie Sanders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders) were a Dem . . .) ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/17 "2006-08-10T01:14:33Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > From [an online poll](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/3/235338/6917): > > #1 - Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (NC) … 31.2% > #2 - Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN) … 29.3% > #3 - Sen. Russ Feingold (WI) … 11.8% > #4 - Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA) … 11.7% > #5 - Other (Bayh, Biden, Hillary Clinton, Daschle, Dodd, Kerry, Richardson, etc.) … 6.6% > #6 - Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (AR) … 4.9% > #7 - Sen. Barack Obama (IL) … 2.7% > #8 - Rep. John Lewis (GA) … 1.1% > #9 - Gov. Ed Rendell ¶ … .8% 1. Of those in the list above, I’d have to agree that Edwards has the best shot… 2. …unless Gore runs. I actually have much more respect for Gore now than I did when he was _in_ politics. However, he’s stated he’s not interested so often in the past year that if he did run my esteem for him would drop somewhat. 3. I love Feingold. He is, however, as someone else indicated, probably unelectable. 4. Warner may surprise some people. If he throws his hat in I believe he’ll do better than anticipated. 5. I don’t know much about Bayh. Biden’s damaged from way back, so no chance. HRC? Goodness, I hope not. Daschle? Too demonized. Dodd? Little, if any chance. Kerry? He had his shot, so no. I don’t know enough about Richardson to comment. 6. I actually like Gen Clark, but he was caught in a bit of flip-floppery in the last cycle, so I don’t believe he has a chance. 7. I like Obama, but he’s not ready, nor do I think he’ll attempt it this time. 8. I don’t know anything about John Lewis. 9. Ed Rendell? No way, no how. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/18 "2006-08-10T01:52:16Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > From [an online poll](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/3/235338/6917): > > #1 - Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (NC) … 31.2% > #2 - Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN) … 29.3% > #3 - Sen. Russ Feingold (WI) … 11.8% > #4 - Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA) … 11.7% > #5 - Other (Bayh, Biden, Hillary Clinton, Daschle, Dodd, Kerry, Richardson, etc.) … 6.6% > #6 - Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (AR) … 4.9% > #7 - Sen. Barack Obama (IL) … 2.7% > #8 - Rep. John Lewis (GA) … 1.1% > #9 - Gov. Ed Rendell ¶ … .8% Gore/Edwards! Now there’s a ticket. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/19 "2006-08-10T01:55:17Z")
What’s the timetable on the revelation of things like this? When will the actual nomination be made? When does it usually become clear who will be running for the nomination? When does it usually become clear who is a serious contender for the nomination? -Kris ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-who-are-the-possible-democratic-candidates-for-prexy/368010/20 "2006-08-10T02:08:08Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > What’s the timetable on the revelation of things like this? We’re a long way away from anything. The first primaries are set for January of 2008. > [@](#): > > When will the actual nomination be made? August 25, 2008. > [@](#): > > When does it usually become clear who will be running for the nomination? A few months before the primaries. I don’t know if there are relevant filing dates and things. Right now people just have to express interest, and not that many people have officially said “I’m in.” Senators Biden and Dodd have done that, and so has ex-Senator Mike Gravel.