# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/441 "2019-01-31T20:46:37Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Pete Buttigieg had an interview on NPR this morning. He made a good first impression on me, unlike Sherrod Brown. I’m not sure how he could win the nomination ([hmm, looks like I need to catch up on 538](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/pete-buttigieg-2020-democratic-nomination/)). I heard that interview – the first I’d heard anything about him, including how to pronounce his name. I came away extremely impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/442 "2019-01-31T20:59:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Except maybe the 50% of Americans who like her. I like her fine. But I would advise against her running again (if she asked me) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/443 "2019-01-31T21:05:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I like her fine. But I would advise against her running again (if she asked me) Same here. Still, she could win vs trump. IMHO, the only way she _should_ come in is being drafted at the last moment if something horrible is revealed about the front runner. Otherwise, no. But I’d back her vs Harris or maybe even Warren. My choice is Biden, actually. He’d be a slam dunk vs trump. Tulsi Gabbard is a no-go and Marianne Williamson is laughable. Julián Castro would be interesting. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/444 "2019-01-31T21:11:14Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Well, since 1960, here are the won-loss records of Presidential candidates based on most prestigious job previously held, excluding the two cases (1968 and 2008) when both candidates had the same job, and also excluding 2000: > > US Senator 1-6 > President 6-2 > Vice President 1-2 > Governor 3-1 > Beauty Pageant Judge 1-0 > > So at first glance it looks like you’d be better off with a Governor, but I think on closer examination this is a phenomena of small sample size. > > Of those six Senatorial losers, Goldwater, McGovern, and Dole were all running against popular incumbents, and Kerry and Clinton came very, very close to winning. Dukakis is the only case I see of someone who lost fairly badly, where a better candidate might plausibly have won. > > OTOH, the three Governors who won (Carter, Reagan, and Clinton) all had the advantage of running against unpopular incumbents. When the GOP tried running Governor Romney against a popular incumbent in 2012, it didn’t go well for them. > > I hear a lot about how Senators have historically been bad Presidential candidates, but I think the evidence of this is skimpier than it might seem at first sight, especially since I’ve never heard a plausible hypothesis of WHY Senators would make bad candidates, and I’ve never met anyone who said they personally would strongly prefer to vote for a Governor rather than a Senator. Well, that’s a fairly embarrassing number of errors for one post. Dukakis, of course, was actually a Governor! So Senators 1-5 Governors 3-2 Presidents 6-3 (not 6-2 like I said above) Vice-Presidents 1-2 Pussy Grabbers 1-0 ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/445 "2019-01-31T22:27:17Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > … and I’ve never met anyone who said they personally would strongly prefer to vote for a Governor rather than a Senator. I’m close. If it’s a mid sized or larger state I really do value that executive experience when deciding who I want to lead the federal executive branch. That’s a big chunk of the job IMO. Senators who have Armed Services, Intelligence, or Foreign Relations committee time can balance that out if their foreign policy views aren’t wildly different than mine. I heavily weight foreign policy issues when selecting a president. Just a random Senator without that type of committee assignment or some similar experience\* is fighting uphill if they want my vote. Most Senators don’t have that other experience. - Something like Clinton’s time as Secretary of State or Webb’s time in two senior DOD positions including Secretary of the Navy are good examples. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/446 "2019-02-01T00:25:27Z")
I think that, all else being equal, I’d actually prefer a senator over a governor (though of course, it’d be even better to have someone with both kinds of experience). On the one hand, yes, governor is an executive position, and that is relevant experience… but on the other hand, senator is a federal position, and that’s also relevant. Federal issues are, in many ways, completely different from state issues, and many of the President’s powers (like commanding the military) are firmly in the federal-only category. Plus, a president will very seldom have to interact significantly with governors, but he has to interact with senators and representatives all the time. It’s better to have someone who has both the experience of how that works, and active networking with a number of other members of the chamber. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/447 "2019-02-01T01:57:25Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > . . . Pussy Grabbers 1-0 I think it’s safe to say you’re way off on that one. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/448 "2019-02-01T01:58:50Z")
I would rather have someone who’s worked in Washington on foreign policy than someone who hasn’t. As an example, to name two persons who don’t appear to be running, I’d take a Bill Richardson, who at least had a little State Department experience, over a Steve Bullock, who’s only had posts in Montana state government. And people at State didn’t seem to _like_ Richardson that much, but it’s something. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/449 "2019-02-01T02:38:07Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > … a state congresswoman… There’s no such thing. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2019, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/450 "2019-02-01T05:19:01Z")
[Booker is expected to announce soon](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/427980-booker-seeks-support-from-lawmakers-as-he-informs-them-he-is-running-for), motivated by Harris’ spectacular roll-out and the start of Black History Month. He’s calling around for support from people in Congress. Booker and Harris appear to be battling over CBC support, but I imagine many CBC members won’t endorse until they know what Biden’s doing. He may be an old white dude from Delaware, but I reckon it’ll be hard for Booker and Harris to grab CBC endorsements if he’s in. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/451 "2019-02-01T12:21:15Z")
Booker joined the race today ---
**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:** [February 1, 2019, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/452 "2019-02-01T12:42:51Z")
Booker appears to me to be the most clearly charismatic of the Democratic candidates announced so far. Plus, he has a great breadth of experience, including mayor of a large city (Newark). I’m still leaning Klobuchar, but there’s a lot to like about Booker, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/453 "2019-02-01T13:04:06Z")
Klobuchar seems like a solid candidate but there’s been some concerns over her apparently draconian law-and-order stance, which disproportionately affected blacks and minimized accountability for police. Not sure how much meat there is to this story, though. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/454 "2019-02-01T13:30:05Z")
I’m still wondering who’s going to be the focus of infatuation by the Infatuatables this time. Obama is out, Sanders is ineligible (unless he declares party membership, something that would offend them), so who is going to get all the adoring posts in this forum from people who want to have a baby with them? Booker is positioning himself as an Obama rerun, Warren as a Sanders/Hillary blend but with more backbone, so … Harris? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/455 "2019-02-01T14:01:52Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m still wondering who’s going to be the focus of infatuation by the Infatuatables this time. Obama is out, Sanders is ineligible (unless he declares party membership, something that would offend them), so who is going to get all the adoring posts in this forum from people who want to have a baby with them? Booker is positioning himself as an Obama rerun, Warren as a Sanders/Hillary blend but with more backbone, so … Harris? And now that Hillary is gone, who will the teeth out defenders of “the electable candidate” choose? Who will be candidate X in the phrase “If you don’t support X, you’re helping Trump!”? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/456 "2019-02-01T14:02:48Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I heard that interview – the first I’d heard anything about him, including how to pronounce his name. I came away extremely impressed. His last name is hard to pronounce, but he impressed me too. So smart and sensible and calm. I hope he gets some more attention. ---
**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 1, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/457 "2019-02-01T14:28:43Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > And now that Hillary is gone, who will the teeth out defenders of “the electable candidate” choose? Who will be candidate X in the phrase “If you don’t support X, you’re helping Trump!”? Whoever it is who wins the Democratic nomination. With this big of a field splitting it who that person is might not be clear for much longer than it was last time, but once it is then it is time to circle the wagons and unite and if you do not support X then, as strongly as possible, then whoever X is you’re helping Trump. (Unless maybe we are talking some third party person on the Right.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/458 "2019-02-01T14:35:35Z")
Absolutely. You need to unite your people and divide the opposition’s. Anybody still pouting over their pet candidate losing, or who does not quite understand why the perfect is the enemy of the good, \*should \*only need to be told “President Trump” and “President Dubya” to remind them why they need to cut the shit and grow up this time. But that still won’t be enough, of course. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/459 "2019-02-01T14:38:08Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > And now that Hillary is gone, who will the teeth out defenders of “the electable candidate” choose? Who will be candidate X in the phrase “If you don’t support X, you’re helping Trump!”? Before the convention, the threat is meaningless. After the convention, if Democrats unite behind the candidate, the threat is meaningless. Supporting the non-Democrat is helping Trump, but that’s about all you can say. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/460 "2019-02-01T14:41:12Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Before the convention, the threat is meaningless. It wasn’t last time. Sanders, and his acolytes, continued to try to damage Clinton during the primaries even after the nomination had been effectively decided, his endorsement was late and painfully reluctant, and that damage certainly persisted into November. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=24)