# Are there any candidates that could challenge the Bernie/Hillary race? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 10, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476 "2015-08-10T20:27:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/1 "2015-08-10T20:27:09Z")
Are there any serious challenges to the Bernie/Hillary race in the primary? Elizabeth Warren is the only one that comes to mind. Is there a real-world X-factor we’re not thinking of? Or is it pretty much going to be either Hillary or Bernie on the ticket in November? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/2 "2015-08-10T21:32:57Z")
I think Biden would make an immediate impact if he decides to run. There’s still time for someone lesser-known to grow some support (I think most Democrats would love to see someone born after 1950 in the race), but not _much_ time. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/3 "2015-08-10T21:58:32Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/4 "2015-08-11T01:37:54Z")
Biden would be an immediate contender, but O’Malley seems to be slowly building support in Iowa in a workmanlike manner. It should be noted that John Edwards was able to go from 1% to 2nd place in Iowa using the same strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/5 "2015-08-11T02:01:15Z")
I still keep looking for charismatic Dems in their 40’s and 50’s… Not really seeing anyone stepping up. I think we’ve got an age issue at the top of the party. Hillary, Joe, Bernie, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reed are all in their 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/6 "2015-08-11T02:09:40Z")
There’s Cory Booker. But the real problem is that in the last eight years it’s been hard to get new Democrats elected, which means that the incumbents have continued to age with no new blood replacing them. Tammy Duckworth could end up being a President someday too. She’s poised to win in Illinois in 2016. Here’s a name most of you won’t know who might be President someday: Steve Bullock. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/7 "2015-08-11T02:46:34Z")
I wish there could be a Brown/Weiner ticket. But I don’t think Sherrod Brown’s wife would let him run, and I don’t know if Anthony Weiner’s wife will let him out of the house. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/8 "2015-08-11T02:59:29Z")
> [@Oedipus](#): > > Are there any serious challenges to the Bernie/Hillary race in the primary? Elizabeth Warren is the only one that comes to mind. Is there a real-world X-factor we’re not thinking of? Or is it pretty much going to be either Hillary or Bernie on the ticket in November? I don’t see Hillary picking Sanders as a VP running mate (I don’t see Warren either, but maybe it will be an all girl ticket), but I do think Hillary will get the nomination. I think when the smoke clears she is going to walk away with the nomination. She is doing all the right things, saying all the right things, and aside from liberal wistfulness over Sanders she is going to be the candidate for the Dems this time. As for whether she will do well against the massive Republican challenge, I’d say…um, well, yeah. I haven’t seen any of these guys who have a snowballs chance in hell. I thought Bush would be her big challenger, but he seems to not have the steam or fire to carry through, and at least from the last time I checked he stacked up the best of any of the Republicans against Hillary…and he didn’t stack up very well. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/9 "2015-08-11T03:30:58Z")
If you come after Warren, the blood of the Adamses and all the immigrants escaping from European tyranny that we welcomed and exploited will rise in our veins, Massachusetts will succeed, and we’ll come up with a much better reason than the South ever did. We offered you cowards Dukakis and Kerry, and you threw them back in our “elitist”, educated faces; come for Warren and we will crush you. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/10 "2015-08-11T11:31:18Z")
That’s a weird thing to say, given that most of Warren’s life was spent as a southern Republican, not a Massachusetts Democrat. I guess Massachusetts is the land of weird transformations. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/11 "2015-08-11T12:04:01Z")
Mainly it’s a center of education. Living there tends to de-ignorate people. [In Warren’s case](http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/04/27/3431303/warren-left-gop/): > [@](#): > > I was an independent. I was with the GOP for a while because I really thought that it was a party that was principled in its conservative approach to economics and to markets. And I feel like the GOP party just left that. They moved to a party that said, “No, it’s not about a level playing field. It’s now about a field that’s gotten tilted.” And they really stood up for the big financial institutions when the big financial institutions are just hammering middle class American families. I just feel like that’s a party that moved way, way away. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/12 "2015-08-11T12:08:29Z")
> [@XT](#): > > … aside from liberal wistfulness over Sanders [Ms. Clinton] is going to be the candidate for the Dems this time. Shut up! Just shut right up. It’s still too early–I don’t have to wake up yet. ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/13 "2015-08-11T12:41:38Z")
While we’re mentioning Bullock and Duckworth, I think that Roy Cooper, attorney general in NC, will totally be the next NC governor or senator and could be a huge Democratic face. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/14 "2015-08-11T12:51:28Z")
The Democrats probably have some people who will become stars in the future, but if you look at the people who can be President now or in four years(if the Democrats lose in 2016), it’s pretty grim. If Clinton was to lose in 2016, Cory Booker would pretty much have to run. That would be his time. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/15 "2015-08-11T12:54:55Z")
I would say Al Gore’s always relevant, but he doesn’t seem too interested in running anymore. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/16 "2015-08-11T13:21:12Z")
> [@Oedipus](#): > > I think that Roy Cooper, attorney general in NC, will totally be the next NC governor or senator and could be a huge Democratic face. A huge Democratic face? Possible. But, a future Presidential candidate? Assuming he succeeds as a two term Governor or a twice elected Senator we’re looking at 2024 before he’d be running- at which point he’ll be getting pretty close to 70. I’ll echo **Chimera** from upthread: some younger faces would be welcome. Old OR White OR Man would be fine. Even 2 out of 3 would be o.k. But, all three? He’d really have to overcome that with some amazing charm and charisma in addition to excellent policy. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/17 "2015-08-11T13:59:12Z")
Unless the Democratic party is damaged in some way, being a white guy should still bring inherent advantages to a Presidential race. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/18 "2015-08-11T14:49:35Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Old OR White OR Man would be fine. Even 2 out of 3 would be o.k. But, all three? He’d really have to overcome that with some amazing charm and charisma in addition to excellent policy. So, Bill Murray? With Al Franken as his running mate? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/19 "2015-08-11T16:24:53Z")
In all seriousness, the Dems could do a lot worse than Franken. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/20 "2015-08-11T16:26:12Z")
Franken’s awesome, but also quite long in the tooth. His only real opportunity to run is now, and like Warren, he’s passed it up. You know, with all this talk of great Democrats who could be President in their 60s, isn’t it a shame that Clinton’s presence in the race probably kept a lot of them out who would otherwise have run? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476.md?page=2)