# If Clinton stays out, who is likely to be the nominee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 13, 2014, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100 "2014-12-13T08:33:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/21 "2014-12-15T03:43:32Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Castro would seem to be an unacceptable name–with people asking: Is he related to Fidel? Yeah, just imagine if he had an African American father. ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/22 "2014-12-15T04:55:44Z")
I was reading an article in The Atlantic that put forward Martin O’Malley, the governor of Maryland, as a certain Democratic candidate. Don’t know much about him, but the article made him sound like a very competent governor who’s been successfully promoting education and business growth in his state, and uses some sort of analytics program to measure government program success. I was intrigued by the he-sounds-too-good-to-be-true portrayal of the article. As I’ve never voted for a Republican candidate for Federal office, I’ll likely be supporting whomever the Democrats nominate (unless the Republicans unexpectedly counter with someone like John Huntsman), but my vote for Hilary Clinton wouldn’t be as enthusiastic. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/23 "2014-12-15T09:09:45Z")
You guys sound like a bunch of Beltway pundits. Warren is the obvious nominee, the progressives LURVE her, and they mostly despise the candidates mentioned in this thread so far. Don’t you remember what happened a few weeks ago with the Democratic slate full of Republican lites? Jeebus, how often do you want to repeat that? You have to get your progressive base on board, Dems, and it’s not going to work with the losers bandied about in this thread to date. Well, maybe Jerry Brown. But the rest … pfft. Recipe for failure … Dems must really love the taste of failure, though … ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/24 "2014-12-15T11:54:22Z")
You don’t always get the field you want. I agree that if Clinton is out and Warren is in, she’s the nominee. But if we take her at her word, that leaves old geezer Bernie Sanders as the progressive choice. Jerry Brown I forgot about, he’s old but intriguing. And certainly capable. With warren and Clinton out, the nominee could be just about anyone plausible, and Brown is certainly plausible. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/25 "2014-12-15T13:55:51Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Yeah, just imagine if he had an African American father. Or a Hispanic one. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/26 "2014-12-15T13:58:25Z")
Wall Street would invest heavily in defeating Elizabeth Warren. Liberals may love her, but the moneyed class would never allow her to get the nomination. If Hillary stays out, I’d love to see Joe Biden get in. If either of them get the nod, I’d be in favor of them ruling out a second term while running for a first. If I had my druthers, I’d take Al Franken as the nominee. Maybe run Alan Grayson as the veep. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/27 "2014-12-15T14:44:12Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Wall Street would invest heavily in defeating Elizabeth Warren. Liberals may love her, but the moneyed class would never allow her to get the nomination. > > If Hillary stays out, I’d love to see Joe Biden get in. If either of them get the nod, I’d be in favor of them ruling out a second term while running for a first. > > If I had my druthers, I’d take Al Franken as the nominee. Maybe run Alan Grayson as the veep. Are you my younger self with a time machine? Four or five years ago, I used to use “Franken/Grayson 2016!” as a sig line in blogspace. While I’m less sure about Grayson than I used to be, I still think Al Franken would be a hell of a good candidate. Why not him, indeed? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/28 "2014-12-15T14:45:03Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If I had my druthers, I’d take Al Franken as the nominee. Maybe run Alan Grayson as the veep. How awesome would it be for the President to host SNL? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/29 "2014-12-15T14:47:33Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Are you my younger self with a time machine? Four or five years ago, I used to use “Franken/Grayson 2016!” as a sig line in blogspace. > > While I’m less sure about Grayson than I used to be, I still think Al Franken would be a hell of a good candidate. Why not him, indeed? Yeah, why not? He’s smart, he’s liberal, he’s not afraid to stand up to the GOP. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/30 "2014-12-15T15:44:37Z")
I get the feeling that Warren might be able to accomplish more in the Senate than in the White House. She’s basically a single-issue politician, and while she’s great on that single issue, you need someone more well-rounded for the Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/31 "2014-12-15T15:44:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Edwards’ political career is over, unless he changes parties. Democrats won’t tolerate that sort of behavior. That made me laugh so hard coffee almost came out my nose.😃 Neither party does a great job of holding their peeps accountable, but I could argue that the Republicans do a better job than the Dems. Off topic though. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/32 "2014-12-15T15:57:41Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Castro would seem to be an unacceptable name–with people asking: Is he related to Fidel? > [@hajario](#): > > Yeah, just imagine if he had an African American father. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > Or a Hispanic one. Or a middle name like Hussein! I remember Andrew Cuomo’s name being bandied about a few years ago. How’s he been doing? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/33 "2014-12-15T16:28:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You don’t always get the field you want. I agree that if Clinton is out and Warren is in, she’s the nominee. But if we take her at her word, that leaves old geezer Bernie Sanders as the progressive choice. However, Clinton being out, changes the whole ball game, In which case it is quite likely that Warren would change her mind. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/34 "2014-12-15T17:02:00Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If Hillary stays out, I’d love to see Joe Biden get in. “Old, establishment politician” image wouldn’t sell very well, plus he’d be nearly 74 years old by Election Day 2016. There’s a reason VPs don’t often get elected as presidents in their own right. And if Obama becomes even more unpopular, it would hinder a Biden candidacy. I just can’t see the voters getting enthused about a 73-year old “Washington insider” on the 2016 campaign trail. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/35 "2014-12-15T17:13:33Z")
There had been some talk of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon being a possible VP candidate. But his poor performance during the Ferguson unrest seems to have made that pretty unlikely. As far as the presidential nomination, I haven’t a clue. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/36 "2014-12-15T17:21:54Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > There had been some talk of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon being a possible VP candidate. But his poor performance during the Ferguson unrest seems to have made that pretty unlikely. > > As far as the presidential nomination, I haven’t a clue. Not to mention it would be hard for Dems to rally around a Nixon presidential campaign. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/37 "2014-12-15T17:25:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Not to mention it would be hard for Dems to rally around a Nixon presidential campaign. I’ve always wanted to see someone surnamed Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, Roosevelt, etc. run for president in this century, just for historical kicks. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/38 "2014-12-15T17:40:15Z")
A _Washington Post_ [article](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/11/inside-the-beltway-a-new-interested-in-rahm-emanue/?page=all) suggests Rahm Emanuel is being “groomed” for a White House bid, either as presidential or VP contender. That article is pretty thinly sourced, though. Honestly, I don’t know much about him. He always looks to me like he’s been awake for about 97 straight hours. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/39 "2014-12-15T18:13:09Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > A _Washington Post_ [article](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/11/inside-the-beltway-a-new-interested-in-rahm-emanue/?page=all) suggests Rahm Emanuel is being “groomed” for a White House bid, either as presidential or VP contender. That article is pretty thinly sourced, though. Honestly, I don’t know much about him. He always looks to me like he’s been awake for about 97 straight hours. Sounds like little more than some liberal’s wet dream. Rahm’s an attack dog, with about the same level of likeability. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100/40 "2014-12-15T18:52:32Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > A _Washington Post_ [article](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/11/inside-the-beltway-a-new-interested-in-rahm-emanue/?page=all) suggests Rahm Emanuel is being “groomed” for a White House bid, either as presidential or VP contender. That article is pretty thinly sourced, though. Honestly, I don’t know much about him. He always looks to me like he’s been awake for about 97 straight hours. Not in a million years. He is about as likeable as Terry McAuliffe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-clinton-stays-out-who-is-likely-to-be-the-nominee/707100.md?page=3)