# 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:** 171
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3401 "2020-02-03T20:45:48Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Got any research to cite supporting your theory? Well mainly because Hillary Clinton ran on raising the minimum wage ($12 instead of $15 though), more regulation on greenhouse gases, an end to mandatory minimums (as well as an end to mass incarceration), and abortion rights. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3402 "2020-02-03T21:07:13Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > So along comes Trump. He openly mentions their fears. He panders to them. And he suggests - as demogogues often do - that he has a simple, straightforward solution. Blame democrats. Blame immigrants. And he promises to do something about it. What is always sort of vague - he’s a vague promises kinda guy - but he’s saying - in a way they haven’t heard out loud before - that he’s with them and he’ll fix it. > > He won’t, of course. Absent wholesale changes to the American economic and financial system it can’t be changed. But he’s saying it in a new way that appeals. That brought him votes in 2016 and will undoubtedly do so in 2020. This helps me articulate why I think someone could be a Sanders-Trump voter, actually. As much as I approve of Sanders in general, he falls into the trap of saying, “It’s not complicated” too much. That’s not true, the global economy is really fucking complicated, which is why Warren’s myriad plans are so appealing to me; but not everyone wants to hear that it’s complicated. There are people who want to hear their concerns addressed and want to hear bold, straightforward solutions, but don’t like caging children and building walls as those straightforward solutions. They might prefer Trump to go-along-to-get-along Biden, but they might prefer Sanders to Build the Wall Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3403 "2020-02-03T21:26:11Z")
That’s certainly possible. But it’ll be people in the fretful middle 10%. In truth, there really aren’t that many swing voters at this point. With partisanship so high elections tend to come down to turnout. That’s why GOTV is so important. Now, if Bernie gets in - and I’ll be in cash come election day, just in case - and begins making moves that DO actually begin reworking the American economic system then perhaps some of those voters will be winnable. But hoping to move over a 55 year old Trump voter? That seems unlikely. Bernie’s entire success is going to hinge on whether he can get first- or second-time voters to come out to the polls in higher numbers. This is a fun little set of graphics: [http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/demographics](http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/demographics) If you look at the one by Age 18-29 is climbing. But it needs to be higher still this time for Bernie to confidently become the nominee and have a shot at winning the general. I don’t know if he can do that. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3404 "2020-02-03T21:40:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > This helps me articulate why I think someone could be a Sanders-Trump voter, actually. As much as I approve of Sanders in general, he falls into the trap of saying, “It’s not complicated” too much. That’s not true, the global economy is really fucking complicated, which is why Warren’s myriad plans are so appealing to me; but not everyone wants to hear that it’s complicated. > > There are people who want to hear their concerns addressed and want to hear bold, straightforward solutions, but don’t like caging children and building walls as those straightforward solutions. They might prefer Trump to go-along-to-get-along Biden, but they might prefer Sanders to Build the Wall Trump. Exactly. Bernie is a saner, more moral, liberal version of Trump. He has simple solutions to complex problems (H.L. Mencken: “For every complex problem, there exists a solution that is clear, simple and wrong”), rails against the establishment and tells voters “Aren’t you sick and tired of being sick and tired, fed up with being fed up, same old same old?” and his Bernie Bros exhibit some similarities (in terms of temperament and hive-mind) to Trump voters. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3405 "2020-02-03T22:33:25Z")
I would accept that statement, Velocity. The economic issues are real and fixing them does not suit the needs of the ruling classes. But which side one backs - Bernie or Trump - is dependent on exogamous factors such as age, geography and education. But the impulse that leads to the desire to change things wholesale - the overall feeling that one is not being taken care of or protected or is being preyed upon - stems from the same economic anxiety. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3406 "2020-02-04T00:02:35Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I’ve got a theory. African Americans turned out more in 2012 because of Obama and Clinton isn’t Obama. End of theory. > > AA voting has steadily increased over the last decades but 2012 & 2008 popped higher above even that trend. Clinton should never have expected comparable numbers. Exactly. No Democratic presidential candidate not named Obama has had better Black turnout/share than Clinton did in 2016. I doubt another Black candidate even would. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3407 "2020-02-04T02:17:21Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Exactly. Bernie is a saner, more moral, liberal version of Trump. He has simple solutions to complex problems (H.L. Mencken: “For every complex problem, there exists a solution that is clear, simple and wrong”), rails against the establishment and tells voters “Aren’t you sick and tired of being sick and tired, fed up with being fed up, same old same old?” and his Bernie Bros exhibit some similarities (in terms of temperament and hive-mind) to Trump voters. And both prioritize the Politics of Resentment. _You are not getting a fair shake because Those People…_ ---
**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 4, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3408 "2020-02-04T02:18:08Z")
Bernie’s Chicago watch party is packed. Anyone else around? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3409 "2020-02-04T02:21:40Z")
I’ve never seen the actual caucus process live on TV before…this is fascinating. And it looks like fun – I want to move to Iowa. And so red-white-and-blue-Americana. And it’s refreshing to see something political going on that’s not nasty and degrading, for a change. ---
**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 4, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3410 "2020-02-04T02:22:44Z")
538 reporting super preliminary results: Sanders with a narrow lead over Buttigieg, Klobuchar a close fifth. Disclaimer: these are likely from small rural caucuses which probably lean more conservative. Sounds good. ---
**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 4, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3411 "2020-02-04T03:12:56Z")
Looks like Pete is having a good night. A Sanders-Buttigieg result tonight would make Bernie about a 2-1 favorite to win the nomination per Nate Silver. A close Buttigieg-Sanders result would lead to Total Chaos with Bernie still in the lead but with only a 28% chance of winning, and a 26% chance of a contested convention. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3412 "2020-02-04T03:15:36Z")
Memo to Iowa: how fucking stupid are you to trust voting to “apps”. That’s it. No more relying on Iowa and NH for first in the nation - I’m tired of this “exalt the shit kicker” nonsense. California and New York should be first. ---
**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 4, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3413 "2020-02-04T03:17:10Z")
WTF is taking so long?! ---
**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 4, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3414 "2020-02-04T03:19:15Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Memo to Iowa: how fucking stupid are you to trust voting to “apps”. > > That’s it. > > No more relying on Iowa and NH for first in the nation - I’m tired of this “exalt the shit kicker” nonsense. > > California and New York should be first. In fairness, they do have secure landlines available as a backup, and there will be a paper trail in case of disputes. I wonder what the State most demographically similar to the US overall is. Seems like they should go first. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3415 "2020-02-04T03:19:35Z")
A 3rd-place finish for Biden could be devastating for him. ---
**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 4, 2020, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3416 "2020-02-04T03:40:27Z")
This place is STILL packed after hours of nothing happening. Bernie supporters are dedicated. Also, we like cheap PBR, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3417 "2020-02-04T03:41:53Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > A 3rd-place finish for Biden could be devastating for him. Not in this meaningless caucus. If he does poorly in a actual election, sure. ---
**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 4, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3418 "2020-02-04T03:42:00Z")
Now we have a Socialist city councilwoman revving up the crowd. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3419 "2020-02-04T03:48:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not in this meaningless caucus. If he does poorly in a actual election, sure. It’s a bad night for Biden. It’s not great news for any single candidate, but Biden relies on big donors to deliver the goods, and they expect him to deliver their goods. And he didn’t deliver. It might be Bloomberg time now. ---
**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 4, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3420 "2020-02-04T03:52:12Z")
Actually Biden’s campaign has not been rolling in the dough. I was shocked to see he bought fewer TV ads in Iowa than Yang did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=170) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=172)