# Frontrunners for Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 16, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036 "2025-01-16T06:50:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/541 "2025-05-21T23:18:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > One bad debate- when Joe was sick and had jet lag. It wasn’t just one bad debate. Questions were swirling around his competency well before the debate. For instance, this 2/24 Daily Show episode filmed three months before the debate: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NpBPm0b9deQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Jon Stewart Tackles The Biden-Trump Rematch That Nobody Wants | The Daily Show") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpBPm0b9deQ&t=741) He has segments with Biden looking confused while giving speeches and his aides going on talk shows saying how sharp he is. After showing clips of Biden looking confused at press conferences, he has a segment with his aides saying Biden is fine. The transcript of one segment goes: > [@](#): > > [Jon Stewart:] > These two candidates-- they are both similarly challenged. > And it is not crazy to think that the oldest people > in the history of the country to ever run for president > might have some of these challenges. > Now, Democrats will say that any criticism like this, > especially of Biden, is unfair. > > [clips of various Biden aids]: > Because you just don’t know Biden like they know Biden. > President Biden, who I’ve been around numerous times > just in this last year, is sharp. > He’s focused. > He’s bright. > He is sharp, intensely probing, > and detail oriented, and focused. > This is a man who is sharp, who is on top of his game, > who knows what’s going on. > He’s smart. > He saw his game. > I was in almost every meeting with the president. > And the president was in front of and on top of it > all, coordinating and directing leaders > who are in charge of America’s national security, > not to mention our allies around the globe. > > [Jon Stewart:] > Did anyone film that? > Because if you’re– > If you’re telling us behind the scenes, > he is sharp and full of energy and on top of it > and really in control and leading, you should film that. > That would be good to show to people instead of a TikTok > where he goes, chocolate chip cookie! > We see he’s in charge. > You see, I like cookies This was three months before the debate. It’s not going to be a good strategy to frame the debate performance as a one-off when there are numerous videos of Biden’s confused behavior months before the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/542 "2025-05-21T23:26:29Z")
After the debate he went on to do several interviews, including with Lester Hold and George Stephanopolous, where he stumbled over his words and made nonsensical statements, got defensive and belligerent, and did absolutely nothing to disabuse anyone of the notion that he’d had mental decline. It was far more than just “one bad debate.” ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/543 "2025-05-21T23:36:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Then why spread such things? Because who gives a shit? I’m not here to defend Biden. Biden’s not going to be on a ballot ever again, and the quicker the party can move on the better. I want to win in 2028. Having to talk about Joe Biden isn’t going to give us a winner. > [@DrDeth](#): > > If any of them run of the platform of Biden being mentally infirm while Joe was in office- they will lose my vote- period. Yeah ok, that’s not a “platform.” But what a noble declaration. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/544 "2025-05-21T23:40:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Buttigieg would get slaughtered. Little experience and openly gay. Is there any point at which you will feel you have expressed this sentiment enough? > [@DrDeth](#): > > AOC and Buttigieg are not electable in 2028. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Pete is openly gay. Certain election loser. > [@DrDeth](#): > > And Mayor pete- not only gay, but not enough experience. These two go together: > [@Aeschines](#): > > Yeah, I think Pete as the wonky sidekick could potentially work. > [@DrDeth](#): > > It would lose votes in the midwest and south. sadly. And these two: > [@XOldiesJock](#): > > 3: Pete Buttigieg (former Secretary of Transportation) > [@DrDeth](#): > > Good way to give Vance or whoever a real landslide. And these two: > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Pete Buttigieg - very intelligent and able to keep his cool while explaining complex ideas under pressure. Unfortunately he’s gay. He would get crushed > [@DrDeth](#): > > I agree with Pete. And that’s just THIS thread. Never mind previous ones: > [@What's the "critical mass" needed for the D's to nominate someone other than Biden in 2024?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-critical-mass-needed-for-the-ds-to-nominate-someone-other-than-biden-in-2024/968630/30): > > Buttigieg is openly gay, and a instant loss, not to mention he has little experience. > [@Joe Biden's in](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/779): > > I like Mayor Pete, but a openly gay may wont play in Peoria WE. GET. IT. We really, really, really get it now. No need to say it again. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/545 "2025-05-22T19:28:15Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Questions were swirling around his competency well before the debate. None by any medical experts-- and that was a humor show showing both as too old. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Because who gives a shit? You clearly do. > [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Is there any point at which you will feel you have expressed this sentiment enough? Is there any point where posters stop claiming he might be a good candidate in 2028? > [@ShadowFacts](#): > > WE. GET. IT. We really, really, really get it now. No need to say it again. Apparently not, and this thread is 544 posts long. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/546 "2025-05-22T19:44:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You clearly do. No, I clearly _don’t_ give a shit about spreading “such things.” But yes, let’s keep defending Biden in discussions about 2028. That will work out well for Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/547 "2025-05-22T20:31:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Is there any point where posters stop claiming he might be a good candidate in 2028? Probably not. Many people like Pete, so I suspect there will additional posts positing him as a viable candidate. Are you suggesting that you feel obligated to repeat your opinion that Pete can’t win because he’s gay every time someone posts about him? I know this might be hard to imagine, but bear with me here for a moment. Have you considered, just maybe, just possibly that if someone mentions Mayor Pete, that you could… deep breath now.. . not respond? Crazy, I know! But it just. might. work. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/548 "2025-05-22T23:59:23Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I know this might be hard to imagine, but bear with me here for a moment. Have you considered, just maybe, just possibly that if someone mentions Mayor Pete, that you could… deep breath now.. > . not respond? Crazy, I know! But it just. might. work. Why do you feel obsessed over my opinion? My opinion isnt odd , many people have it. Maybe, just maybe you could drop this weird thing you got going and get back to to the real subject? Personally I like Newsom- not a great choice, but he isnt doing great in the polls- > **[How leading 2028 Democrats' popularity compares to Trump and JD Vance](https://www.newsweek.com/how-leading-2028-democrats-popularity-compares-trump-jd-vance-2070673)** > > No Democratic candidate has yet declared an intention to run in 2028, but speculation continues to swirl. _Polling aggregation site Race to the WH currently shows Harris, who lost to Trump in 2024, leading the pack with a polling average of 27.2 percent. She is followed by Ocasio-Cortez in second at 15.9 percent, Buttigieg in third at 12.8 percent, Booker is fourth at 8.6 percent and Newsom is fifth at 7.1 percent._ I could live with Harris. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/549 "2025-05-23T17:02:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I could live with Harris. If I thought she could successfully reverse Trump’s avalanche of shitty actions, I’d also support her. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/550 "2025-05-23T19:48:33Z")
It is very unlikely ANY Democrat would be able to reverse the damage done by DJT. It isn’t just a Harris problem. Even with majorities in both chambers of Congress this will take years to undo. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/551 "2025-05-23T20:19:36Z")
True. I don’t envy anyone the job. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/552 "2025-05-23T20:49:50Z")
I know Harris is tainted by losing to the Orange Peril, but in retrospect I think the Dems were kneecapped by the seemingly incessant drumbeat of “The sky is falling!!!” (from the so-called MSM as well as Faux _et.al._). So there’s a part of me that would like to see her try again. Whether the supposed corruption of the Biden administration is still an issue in 2027 or thereabouts will probably play into her decision. Just MHO, which is worth (at best) what you paid for it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/553 "2025-05-23T23:00:16Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > I know Harris is tainted by losing to the Orange Peril, but in retrospect I think the Dems were kneecapped by the seemingly incessant drumbeat of “The sky is falling!!!” (from the so-called MSM as well as Faux _et.al._). Nixon lost and came back, Biden lost and came back, Churchill, and even trump lost and came back. So, yes- a mark against her, but hardly disqualification. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/554 "2025-05-24T00:24:51Z")
Re coming back, I certainly think that Harris remains a theoretically possible candidate for 2028. Things that work against her at the current moment: - The questions of whether there was a “coverup” of Biden’s infirmity and whether she was culpable in that (also, if she was culpable, was it really that bad of a thing). My guess is that it was more of Biden’s immediate handlers that propped him up and people a bit more distant were not willfully complicit. Still, it doesn’t look great. - Probably her worst flub of the campaign trail: being unable or unwilling to say what she would have done differently than Biden did. Of course, this was a bit of a lose-lose situation, but at least throwing out a few token disagreements, etc., would have sufficed. This is sure to come up again in 2028. - One criticism since the election that may be apt is that Harris hasn’t been a leader since losing. Again, this is a bit of a lose-lose situation, since, had she tried to say or do something, the reaction from many (including perhaps a few on our side) would have been, “You just lost–shut up!” I think she can recover from all of these things, and I don’t think they are all that terrible. The biggest thing to overcome, however, is having lost in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/555 "2025-05-24T01:05:37Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Whether the supposed corruption of the Biden administration is still an issue in 2027 or thereabouts will probably play into her decision. Kamala Harris is on the FBI director’s enemies list. Biden’s diagnosis suggests to me that they may skip over Joe and arrest her. I’m not predicting that. But it’s a serious risk that they’ll arrest her if she climbs too high in the polls, or is nominated. MAGA plays for keeps. You can run for office from jail. But if swing voters want normalcy after Trump, nominating someone with jail risk is high risk. Scroll down in here to see the enemies list: > **[The Who’s Who on Kash Patel’s Crazy Enemies List](https://newrepublic.com/article/188946/kash-patel-fbi-enemies-list)** > > Trump’s pick to run the FBI has already made it known who he plans to persecute if he gets confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/556 "2025-05-24T01:20:11Z")
Depending on the state of the country, Kamala losing might be a positive. If we’re in a deep recession w/ stagflation, travel restrictions, etc I think “I wouldn’t have done this shit” could be a powerful message. She’s not my top pick, but I wouldn’t necessarily think it’s a disaster if she runs/win the nom. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/557 "2025-05-24T03:19:30Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > The questions of whether there was a “coverup” of Biden’s infirmity and whether she was culpable in that (also, if she was culpable, was it really that bad of a thing). My guess is that it was more of Biden’s immediate handlers that propped him up and people a bit more distant were not willfully complicit. Still, it doesn’t look great. None of that happened. Biden was fine. > [@Aeschines](#): > > One criticism since the election that may be apt is that Harris hasn’t been a leader since losing. That was just a few months ago- 8. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2025, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/558 "2025-05-24T05:16:30Z")
I was glad to vote for Harris, and far preferred her to Twitler, but she spent _more than a billion dollars_ in a campaign which made starkly clear the risk which Trump posed to the nation… and still lost, including all seven swing states. I would be very surprised if she could get any traction in the 2028 primaries. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/559 "2025-05-24T10:24:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > None of that happened. Biden was fine. There’s a whole book coming out about how Biden wasn’t fine, which features mostly the observations and opinions of Democrats: > **[The Congressman Who Saw the Truth About Biden](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/05/original-sin-book-excerpt/682810/)** > > While many Democrats remained in denial, Mike Quigley perceived something painfully familiar. I’m not taking a side as to whether Biden was fine _as president_ but am merely pointing out that Harris could get some flak over the issue. (Biden wasn’t “fine” as a candidate, however, as was obvious from the debate, and no one his age at the time should run for president. Period.) > [@](#): > > That was just a few months ago- 8. Okay, but, “Why be absent during those months?” will be the criticism. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/560 "2025-05-24T11:54:28Z")
Democratic retreads may be competent but not electable. After watching MSNBC last night I’d go with a Springsteen-Brockovich ticket. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=29)