# Amy Klobuchar Presidential Campaign Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 12, 2020, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810 "2020-02-12T05:58:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/1 "2020-02-12T05:58:33Z")
Amy Jean Klobuchar (/ˈkloʊbəʃɑːr/; born May 25, 1960) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Minnesota. > **[Amy Klobuchar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Klobuchar)** > > Amy Jean Klobuchar (/ˈkloʊbəʃɑːr/ KLOH-bə-shar; born May 25, 1960) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the senior United States senator from Minnesota, a seat she has held since 2007. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Minnesota's affiliate of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the attorney of Hennepin County. > Born in Plymouth, Minnesota, Klobuchar graduated from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. She was a partner at... Previously she seemed to be an also-ran in the Democratic Presidential Campaign race but tonight she finished third in the New Hampshire primary with 20% of the vote, very substantially ahead of Elizabeth Warren with 9% of the vote and Joe Biden with 8% of the vote. Thus I feel it is time for a thread devoted entirely about her as there doesn’t seem to be one. **With a third-place finish, Klobuchar bursts to the center of the Democratic presidential race** > **[With a third-place finish, Klobuchar bursts to the center of the Democratic...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-a-third-place-finish-klobuchar-bursts-to-the-center-of-the-democratic-presidential-race/2020/02/11/53ea8300-4cd8-11ea-b721-9f4cdc90bc1c_story.html)** > > The senator from Minnesota rocketed ahead of her better-known rivals. Now, she’ll have to deliver in diverse and challenging states. Personally I don’t know enough about her (positions…) to know if I will support her. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/2 "2020-02-12T06:37:38Z")
She came in 5th in Iowa and 3rd in NH. I mean, not terrible but I seriously doubt she becomes the nominee unless both Biden and Buttigieg drop out before her, and I don’t see that happening. I think she will limp along, collecting 3rd and 4th place wins then drop out sometime after super tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/3 "2020-02-12T07:04:43Z")
[here is her site](https://amyklobuchar.com/issues/)’s issues page – not much there beyond mundane boilerplate. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/4 "2020-02-12T07:07:40Z")
My biggest problem with her: - [Amy Klobuchar Keeps Voting for Trump’s ‘Horrific’ Judges](https://www.thedailybeast.com/amy-klobuchar-keeps-voting-for-trumps-horrific-judges) ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/5 "2020-02-12T07:09:00Z")
I dunno, I heard she did quite well in the last debate and that got her on a lot of radars. I hadn’t heard of her, but I’m in California, and typically don’t pay too much attention to the primaries. Looking briefly through her wiki, there’s a lot to like. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/6 "2020-02-12T07:16:05Z")
How much of it is because of the spectacular collapse of Warren and Biden? But, as a Pete supporter, I’ll be happy to let her have the target on her back for a while. The staff mistreatment will definitely be front and center. The allegations seem a lot more serious than they can’t take half day Fridays. The prosecutorial record will also be under the microscope. In this era of the Democratic Party, I doubt any prosecutor will be able to survive the scrutiny of the activist wing. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/7 "2020-02-12T10:49:09Z")
Go, Amy! She’s the only candidate still running who has shown she can win in red counties and congressional districts. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/8 "2020-02-12T13:35:42Z")
Klobmentum! [https://twitter.com/8Karls/status/1226634310087782400](https://twitter.com/8Karls/status/1226634310087782400) The Klob is my favorite moderate, by far. I’m still for Bernie, but I’d much prefer Klobuchar to Buttigieg or Biden. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/9 "2020-02-12T13:41:09Z")
Holy shit, Klobuchar is getting the backing of the extremely powerful culinary union in Nevada. People are reporting this as just being anti-Bernie and somewhat anti-Warren. But it’s also pro Klobuchar! And not as positive on Biden or Buttigieg. [https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/1227449101408702467?s=21](https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/1227449101408702467?s=21) Look closely: they are putting their considerable weight behind Amy! I expect they will make the official endorsement announcement soon, but even if not: this could be the tipping point that she will be able to look back at: “this made me president”. It might even mean that behind-the-scenes the entire Democratic establishment is lining up everything they can behind her as their horse to back the rest of the way. But even if it’s just in Nevada, that’s huge. A win there could catapult her to South Carolina and beyond. Apparently she had this in her back pocket even before the debate?!? But I guess if she flamed out in New Hampshire they could still pivot and endorse someone else without having officially committed. Very clever. I wonder if Carville, Axelrod, and/or Begala are behind this somehow. Maybe Terry McAuliffe, Hillary Clinton, even Barack Obama through subtle signaling to his people? Fuck yeah, _The Establishment Strikes Back!_ ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/10 "2020-02-12T14:19:43Z")
amy is top 3 with me. i reckon on an amy-cory ticket being a winning one. my other 2 are elizabeth and pete, i figured on eliz. going with castro as a running mate; still not sure who would pair with pete. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/11 "2020-02-12T14:46:56Z")
_I’m rooting for Amy!_ I don’t think she’s “super” or even particularly charismatic. But each of the front-runners _except_ for Klobuchar (and Biden) has _severe electability problems_. (What’s the obsession with positions on the issues? Any of the D’s will issue executive orders to reverse much of Trump’s damage and seek a progressive path. But legislation will be at the mercy of Moscow Mitch and/or the most conservative Democratic Senator. Much more important than a POTUS’ stance on domestic issues is: will she/he be level-headed in the face of geopolitical crisis? Among the front-runners it is Bernie that gives me grave misgivings there.) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/12 "2020-02-12T16:27:07Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I mean, not terrible but I seriously doubt she becomes the nominee unless both Biden and Buttigieg drop out before her, and I don’t see that happening. Her goal may be to get enough delegates and have Bernie and Pete close enough that it is a contested convention and she is the compromise candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/13 "2020-02-12T16:42:09Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > My biggest problem with her: > > - [Amy Klobuchar Keeps Voting for Trump’s ‘Horrific’ Judges](https://www.thedailybeast.com/amy-klobuchar-keeps-voting-for-trumps-horrific-judges) Yeah, that bothers me quite a bit too. > [@](#): > > Over the course of the 2017-2018 congressional session, Klobuchar voted to confirm nearly two-thirds of Trump’s judicial nominees that came up for a vote, far outpacing every other Democratic senator currently seeking the nomination. Also her treatment of staff does bother me. I think the democratic voters, as the party of the working and middle class, know what its like to have an abusive, disrespectful boss and she gives off a lot of those vibes. I think she reminds a lot of people of a bad boss they’ve had based on her treatment of staffers. I don’t know if it’ll hurt her in a general election, but its something that would have to be considered. However so far it hasn’t hurt her political career, but she probably hasn’t undergone a lot of scrutiny either for it. If people can worry that Buttigiegs sexuality or Bernies socialism drives away voters, I wonder of Klobuchars mistreatment of those without power will drive away people in a party full of workers who know what its like to have an abusive boss. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/14 "2020-02-12T16:56:03Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Holy shit, Klobuchar is getting the backing of the extremely powerful culinary union in Nevada. People are reporting this as just being anti-Bernie and somewhat anti-Warren. But it’s also pro Klobuchar! And not as positive on Biden or Buttigieg. > > [https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/1227449101408702467?s=21](https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/1227449101408702467?s=21) > > Look closely: they are putting their considerable weight behind Amy! I expect they will make the official endorsement announcement soon, but even if not: this could be the tipping point that she will be able to look back at: “this made me president”. > > It might even mean that behind-the-scenes the entire Democratic establishment is lining up everything they can behind her as their horse to back the rest of the way. But even if it’s just in Nevada, that’s huge. A win there could catapult her to South Carolina and beyond. > Apparently she had this in her back pocket even before the debate?!? But I guess if she flamed out in New Hampshire they could still pivot and endorse someone else without having officially committed. Very clever. > > I wonder if Carville, Axelrod, and/or Begala are behind this somehow. Maybe Terry McAuliffe, Hillary Clinton, even Barack Obama through subtle signaling to his people? Fuck yeah, _The Establishment Strikes Back!_ I think this scenario is the only one where she has any realistic shot of winning. She has anemic polling numbers and very little money. _Unless_ the establishment quickly decide to line up behind her in a big way, a third place finish in New Hampshire isn’t enough to make her a contender. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/15 "2020-02-12T17:26:04Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > (What’s the obsession with positions on the issues?) Yep. I will say that I like her quite a bit, and think she is the one who really sounds the most passionate about becoming president, even over Sanders. On more than one occasion, going back to previous debates, she seemed on the verge of tears when talking about what she wants to do as president. She could stop talking about how many elections she has won, and I wouldn’t complain. “Passion” is an overused term that people describes themselves with, but this is the kind of thing that goes a long way to winning elections. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/16 "2020-02-12T18:13:21Z")
Minnesota politicians are like pot roast. They can be pretty good, but they tend to be gray and it is hard to get inspired by them. Of course it’s also the state that elected Jesse Ventura as governor, so we don’t always order off the menu. > [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Also her treatment of staff does bother me. Meh. That’s the sort of story that is going to be told about many politicians If you like the politician, it shows that they are a hard-driving boss, won’t accept anything but the best, yadda yadda. If you don’t, it shows they are an asshole. > [@septimus](#): > > What’s the obsession with positions on the issues? No offense, I hope, but “I don’t care about the issues as long as it isn’t the other guy” is a good deal of the reason why John Kerry isn’t referred to as “former President”. “S/he’s not Trump” doesn’t even do much to distinguish a candidate in the Democratic primaries - none of them are Trump either. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/17 "2020-02-12T18:35:01Z")
I think I’ve made my position on her clear for the past few months but if not I am on the record as voting for her in the general over Trump. Please Dems do your job and make her the nominee.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/18 "2020-02-12T18:39:38Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Also her treatment of staff does bother me. I think the democratic voters, as the party of the working and middle class, know what its like to have an abusive, disrespectful boss and she gives off a lot of those vibes. I don’t know if you read different stories than I have but to me a lot of those say more about the [likability penalty](https://www.drnancyoreilly.com/leading-women-and-the-likability-penalty/) > [@](#): > > Madeline Albright has struggled with these labels and preconceptions, and in her memoir said, “As I began to climb the ladder, I had to cope with the different vocabulary used to describe similar qualities in men (confident, take-charge, committed) and women (bossy, aggressive, emotional).” In other words, if she were a man the way she treats her staff would be seen as presidential material. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/19 "2020-02-12T18:54:21Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I don’t know if you read different stories than I have but to me a lot of those say more about the [likability penalty](https://www.drnancyoreilly.com/leading-women-and-the-likability-penalty/) > > In other words, if she were a man the way she treats her staff would be seen as presidential material. Maybe. > [@](#): > > [While there was wide consensus in the interviews that women were often held to a different standard as bosses, former aides — female and male — said their concerns about Ms. Klobuchar’s behavior should not be dismissed as gender bias. Many of the aides said they had worked for both men and women, for lawmakers both compassionate and unkind, without encountering anyone else like Ms. Klobuchar](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/us/politics/amy-klobuchar-staff.html). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810/20 "2020-02-12T18:56:47Z")
The “hardass boss” stuff could easily be twisted into a useful campaign message – “Yes, I demand high standards among my staff. And I’m not going to stop that – this job is too important. I will demand the highest standards to my staff when I’m working for the American people as President, and I won’t hesitate to let go of anyone who isn’t meeting that standard.” Or something like that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-klobuchar-presidential-campaign-thread/847810.md?page=2)