# Hee-haw, y'all. The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 12, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415 "2018-11-12T17:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 119
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2361 "2019-08-13T22:38:03Z")
Higgsenboson likely out, mulling CO Senate run: > ---
**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:** [August 13, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2362 "2019-08-13T22:40:50Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Higgsenboson likely out, mulling CO Senate run: > > [https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1161390235344936967?s=19](https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1161390235344936967?s=19) Great news! Hopefully he does it. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2363 "2019-08-14T00:22:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Higgsenboson likely out, mulling CO Senate run: > > [https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1161390235344936967?s=19](https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1161390235344936967?s=19) I hope Beto does the same and drops out to challenge Cornyn. I think it should be obvious even to him that he’s not going to win the nomination. I think he has a better chance of beating Cornyn than winning the nomination. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2364 "2019-08-14T00:23:28Z")
[Stacy Abrams ain’t runnin’.](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/13/stacey-abrams-2020-1461880) ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2365 "2019-08-14T00:26:25Z")
Sorry for the double post. Here’s a link to a Houston Chronicle editorial asking Beto to do just that. > **[Beto, come home. Texas needs you. \[Editorial\]](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Beto-come-home-Texas-needs-you-Editorial-14294396.php)** > > We need a real campaign for Senate and you can make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2366 "2019-08-14T00:44:16Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I hope Beto does the same and drops out to challenge Cornyn. I think it should be obvious even to him that he’s not going to win the nomination. I think he has a better chance of beating Cornyn than winning the nomination. Similarly, Bullock has a better chance of beating Daines in MT than winning the nomination. Texas’ filing deadline is this fall sometime, so Beto has a decision to make in just a few months, max. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2367 "2019-08-14T03:09:42Z")
December 9th for Texas senate filing. I agree Beto would do much more good by running against Cornyn, I think this would also fire up the Texas democrats to get out and vote, he generated quite a bit of excitement around here. Same for Hickenlooper, I like him but don’t see any chance for him on the big stage. Hang better check if that is state or federal. . Yep all of them > **[United States Senate election in Texas, 2020](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Texas,_2020)** > > Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics ---
**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 14, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2368 "2019-08-14T03:47:25Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Higgsenboson likely out, mulling CO Senate run: > > [https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1161390235344936967?s=19](https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1161390235344936967?s=19) Hickenloop is probably going to get primaried, and it may not be as easy to get his party’s nomination as he thinks. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2369 "2019-08-14T04:48:40Z")
Whenever I read the word Hickenlooper, I think of Dr. Seuss books. A Starbelly ran forth looking hastily for a pooper. “He must really have to go,” thought President Hickenlooper ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2370 "2019-08-14T13:37:58Z")
Who else would be in contention for Colorado’s Senate seat? And isn’t he pretty popular in his state? ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2371 "2019-08-14T14:13:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Who else would be in contention for Colorado’s Senate seat? And isn’t he pretty popular in his state? The Washington Post had a couple of articles about that last week. I, too, just assumed he was a shoe-in for Colorado Senate. However: > [@](#): > > And if Hickenlooper bails on the jam-packed presidential primary, he’ll just be trading one crowded Democratic contest for another. Ten Democrats have already filed to run against Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in Colorado, and some have raised as much or more money in the past quarter for their bids as Hickenlooper has in his presidential effort…The Democrats already running are giving no indication they intend to end their campaigns… > [@](#): > > All are younger than the 67-year-old Hickenlooper and are well-positioned to outflank him by reminding Democratic primary voters about the parts of his centrist gubernatorial record that might be especially distasteful to liberals — including his strong support of the state’s oil and gas industry and his uneven support for gun-control measures. > > While Hickenlooper’s brand of quirky moderation won him two terms as governor, he never had to face a competitive statewide primary, and his performance in the presidential race has only amplified questions about his viability in the state. > [@](#): > > Should he do so, Hickenlooper faces a millstone of his own making: his own dismal words about serving in the Senate, which are likely to fuel arguments that voters ought to prefer a candidate who is more interested in the job at stake. > > “I’m not cut out to be a senator,” he told Politico in February…“If the Senate is so good, how come all those senators are trying to get out?” He’d still be the odds-on favorite, to be sure. But there is some concern. > [@](#): > > “John Hickenlooper remains incredibly popular with Colorado voters,” said Hubbard, adding that he hasn’t talked to Hickenlooper since January. He contended Hickenlooper would become “an instant front-runner in one of the nation’s most closely-watched Senate races.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2372 "2019-08-14T14:53:24Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Hickenloop is probably going to get primaried Huh? Hickenlooper’s out of office at present. You mean some future election? That comment about the Senate being undesirable doesn’t help, but it’s easy to laugh off - who _wouldn’t_ rather be President than Senator? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2373 "2019-08-14T15:21:11Z")
Yeah, that’s the problem with trying to switch horses in midstream. Setting aside any ideological differences people may have with Hickenlooper, you can’t reasonably expect every other ambitious Democrat in the State to hold off on running for Senate until Hick makes his mind up, or to just give up on their campaigns when he indicates he’s willing to settle for the Senate after all. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2374 "2019-08-14T15:24:35Z")
[Well, then again, on the other hand…](https://www.denverpost.com/2019/08/12/john-hickenlooper-2020-senate-cory-gardner/) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2375 "2019-08-14T15:28:24Z")
It’s good that we’re starting to see the shakeout this early - candidates for the top job resetting their sights on Senator or Governor, pushing others down the ladder into other offices \*they \*can win, and so forth. The Dems were leaving far too many offices uncontested by otherwise solid candidates who were overreaching with the Presidency. Hey, Beto? Senate again, okay, pardner? You can be Hickenlooper’s colleague there, and with the White House once again in the hands of a decent human being with a reality-based agenda you can work with. That ain’t so bad. Inslee and Bullock? Stay where you are; we need you there. Cabinet if asked, though. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2376 "2019-08-14T20:28:02Z")
All right, so which dark-horse Democrat still has the strongest (any realistic) chance of pulling off the long-shot to get the nomination? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2377 "2019-08-15T00:45:25Z")
Interesting question. It’s hard for me to imagine a plausible scenario for any of them at this point. If Biden were to drop out for some reason, it would create an opening for a moderate like Beto, Mayor Pete or Klobuchar, and free up some black support which might go to Booker. I doubt any one of those when end up with the lion’s share of his voters, though. Otherwise, it seems like every major demographic and ideological group within the Party is OK with at least one of the top four. I’m kind of surprised that Castro hasn’t attracted more support, being the only Hispanic in the race. He seems to be the only one of the also-ranks who has a significant constituency that he could theoretically appeal to. But if they haven’t rallied to him yet, I wouldn’t be holding my breath for them to do so in the future. ---
**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 15, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2378 "2019-08-15T04:43:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Huh? Hickenlooper’s out of office at present. You mean some future election?.. Yes, to win the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Colorado. Not “primaried” as in, “challenged within his own party to keep his current post,” but “not blessed with an unopposed primary for a post he hopes to win.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2379 "2019-08-15T12:16:54Z")
Okay, but all those other Dems got into the race assuming Hickenlooper was out. Now that The Big Dog is in, expect most of them to target other offices instead. ---
**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 15, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/2380 "2019-08-15T13:35:01Z")
Yeah, take a look at that poll that **Thing Fish** linked to. Granted, it’s only one poll, and a B+ isn’t the best rating… but it still has him at an outright majority, and a fairly strong one at that, even in a very crowded field. Even from one poll, that’s pretty compelling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=118) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=120)