# How 2020 would be different than 2016 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 29, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-2020-would-be-different-than-2016/831724 "2019-03-29T18:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-2020-would-be-different-than-2016/831724/21 "2019-03-30T21:00:31Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > A good list, but I’m not totally convinced about voter turnout. The Democratic party is going to have to decide how progressive they want their nominee to be. It seems far less likely that a moderate like Hillary can get nominated, which makes Biden a long shot, IMO. I also think that’s why Sherrod Brown decided against running. Either moderates or progressives are going to feel left out and that could hurt turnout. I’m intrigued. Have Democrats ever put a “non-moderate” forward as their nominee in recent history? I had thought the standard wisdom was that a moderate would pull in more votes from non-Democrats, and I don’t expect that a progressive Democrat would find a broader base of support than a moderate in the general election. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-2020-would-be-different-than-2016/831724/22 "2019-03-31T06:51:52Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > I’m intrigued. Have Democrats ever put a “non-moderate” forward as their nominee in recent history? I had thought the standard wisdom was that a moderate would pull in more votes from non-Democrats, and I don’t expect that a progressive Democrat would find a broader base of support than a moderate in the general election. George McGovern, the 1972 candidate, was considered a “non-moderate.” That did not work out well for the D’s. With the Rs running on a platform of ignorance, hatred and extreme-right policies. I agree that a moderate Democrat “ought” to be a sure thing, while running a candidate perceived as far-left might be a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But American politics has become so topsy-turvy I shouldn’t offer advice beyond: _ **Please choose very carefully, Dems!** _ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-2020-would-be-different-than-2016/831724/23 "2019-03-31T19:42:18Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > George McGovern, the 1972 candidate, was considered a “non-moderate.” That did not work out well for the D’s. > > With the Rs running on a platform of ignorance, hatred and extreme-right policies. I agree that a moderate Democrat “ought” to be a sure thing, while running a candidate perceived as far-left might be a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But American politics has become so topsy-turvy I shouldn’t offer advice beyond: _ **Please choose very carefully, Dems!** _ The way to do this is to put a older moderate guy as prez and a young progressive as Veep. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-2020-would-be-different-than-2016/831724/24 "2019-04-02T01:39:38Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > Yeah, history doesn’t bode well for Dems next year. I, for one, certainly hope they can buck that trend, though! Keep in mind that in over two hundred years no President named Donald has ever been elected to a second term. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-2020-would-be-different-than-2016/831724/25 "2019-04-02T02:14:13Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > George McGovern, the 1972 candidate, was considered a “non-moderate.” That did not work out well for the D’s. > > With the Rs running on a platform of ignorance, hatred and extreme-right policies. I agree that a moderate Democrat “ought” to be a sure thing, while running a candidate perceived as far-left might be a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But American politics has become so topsy-turvy I shouldn’t offer advice beyond: _ **Please choose very carefully, Dems!** _ The problem is that politics has become polarized, which makes finding a moderate in either party more challenging. With someone like Donald Trump in charge, the natural inclination among those on the left is to find someone who stands in polar opposition to Donald Trump and his Grand Old Party of Deplorables. That sentiment is certainly understandable, but centrists do exist and a hard-charging candidate risks alienating them. It’s going to take a candidate who can establish some street cred as a progressive while not alienating independents who might be willing to defect away from Trump. That’s going to be more challenging than it might seem. That’s why we have to be careful about Trump’s seemingly low approval rating. He’s already proven he can squeeze enough votes in just the right places to make the electoral college vote tally work in his favor, low approval rating and all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-2020-would-be-different-than-2016/831724.md?page=1)