# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/21 "2015-08-11T16:30:03Z")
I like O’Malley more and more. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/can-a-technocratic-governor-ignite-the-democratic-base-20130620](http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/can-a-technocratic-governor-ignite-the-democratic-base-20130620) ---
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/22 "2015-08-11T17:33:20Z")
Looks like just another list of platitudes from the DNC platform, like you’d expect from a prospective running mate. I must note that the people of Maryland give him only so-so ratings for his actual performance. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/23 "2015-08-11T17:45:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > 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. Joaquin and Julian Castro are rising stars. Joaquin Castro is a US Congressman since 2013, representing Texas’s 20th congressional district. Julian Castro served as Mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014 and is now the 16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Twin brothers, they are 40 years old, and Latino to boot. ---
**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, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/24 "2015-08-11T17:45:55Z")
And the alternative is a candidate who even most Democrats would admit is dishonest, and who has few if any accomplishments other than time served? ---
**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, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/25 "2015-08-11T17:47:35Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Joaquin and Julian Castro are rising stars. Joaquin Castro is a US Congressman since 2013, representing Texas’s 20th congressional district. Julian Castro served as Mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014 and is now the 16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Twin brothers, they are 40 years old, and Latino to boot. Rising stars, yes. Ready to run for President in 2020 if Democrats lose, no. Plus they are held back by the fact that they can never win statewide office in Texas without moving far enough to the right to make them unattractive to Democratic base voters. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/26 "2015-08-11T17:52:35Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Rising stars, yes. Ready to run for President in 2020 if Democrats lose, no. Plus they are held back by the fact that they can never win statewide office in Texas without moving far enough to the right to make them unattractive to Democratic base voters. I will be waiting to quote this post back to you in 2020.\* D’oh!\* ---
**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, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/27 "2015-08-11T17:55:24Z")
In what way do you think I’m wrong? A Castro is going to beat Ted Cruz or something? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/28 "2015-08-11T17:58:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > In what way do you think I’m wrong? A Castro is going to beat Ted Cruz or something? In a presidential general election? I will take that bet in a heartbeat. ---
**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, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/29 "2015-08-11T17:59:03Z")
Really, you think one of them will vault from US House or HUD to the Presidency? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/30 "2015-08-11T18:00:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Really, you think one of them will vault from US House or HUD to the Presidency? Lots of time between now and then. Ted Cruz was a nobody until he was elected to the Senate. ---
**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, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/31 "2015-08-11T18:01:09Z")
Nobodies can get elected to the Senate. They can’t get elected President. Presidents come from governors and Senators. That means winning statewide office. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/32 "2015-08-11T18:03:37Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Nobodies can get elected to the Senate. They can’t get elected President. Presidents come from governors and Senators. That means winning statewide office. Do I have to quote you from the days you were in the tank for Ben Carson? ---
**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, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/33 "2015-08-11T18:05:06Z")
Never was in the tank for Ben Carson. I like Ben Carson. I have not endorsed him for President, nor have I predicted his victory. The closest I came was to be amused if he won because it would be as if our system was taken over by brilliant satire. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/34 "2015-08-11T18:23:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Never was in the tank for Ben Carson. I like Ben Carson. I have not endorsed him for President, nor have I predicted his victory. You said he could win the nomination, [right here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18417468) Despite never winning elective office of any kind. Why would the GOP nominate someone who cannot be elected President? Do they just lack your political acumen? ---
**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, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/35 "2015-08-11T18:34:05Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Do I have to quote you from the days you were in the tank for Ben Carson? Oh yeah, I forgot about that. He’s been halfway through the field looking for a Last Best Hope On Earth, hasn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/36 "2015-08-11T21:45:51Z")
If Schweitzer could be persuaded to run, he could win. But that first step’s a tough one. ---
**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, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/37 "2015-08-11T23:43:28Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Unless the Democratic party is damaged in some way, being a white guy should still bring inherent advantages to a Presidential race. Not after these last eight years. I’m not saying the next president will not be a white man, but there are a lot fewer people who see a well-groomed white man in a nice blue suit as a trustworthy leader. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/38 "2015-08-12T09:00:48Z")
Sure, just so long as the Democratic Party isn’t putting a glass ceiling in place for white males and elevating non-white males before they are ready. The desire to see the Castros as VP or President is a prime example. I don’t care how charismatic he is, no one would be calling for the elevation of two twins, one a HUD secretary and the other a rookie Congressman, if they were white guys. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/39 "2015-08-12T09:57:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Sure, just so long as the Democratic Party isn’t putting a glass ceiling in place for white males and elevating non-white males before they are ready. I’m sure those white males can find jobs somewhere if not in politics. Tell me, why are you so confident that all the women in the Democratic Party are uniformly ready for elevation to Presidential and VP candidacy? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476/40 "2015-08-12T10:25:59Z")
Good message. White males don’t run as Democratic political candidates. You’re not wanted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-candidates-that-could-challenge-the-bernie-hillary-race/727476.md?page=3)