# Obama meets with potential 2020 contenders **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 12, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980 "2018-06-12T17:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/41 "2018-06-13T10:47:09Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I think Elizabeth Warren is our best option, both as a candidate, and as the best person for the job. Why do you think she would " . . .almost certainly lose against any Republican . …" ? She is the perfect plainspoken foil to President Trump’s populism. She has an unbroken record of standing up for the little guy, and is extremely good at breaking down legislative issues for the general populace. > > She is exactly what the Democratic Party needs. Americans, including progressives, seem to want a dose of populism, though. American voters want to break stuff, which is why they voted for a ‘break stuff’ president. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/42 "2018-06-13T12:35:36Z")
I think either Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders would have beat Trump in 2016, and I think either one would beat him in 2020 despite their age. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/43 "2018-06-13T12:48:27Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Sanders can’t be considered a candidate, and thankfully I think his corrupt wife will help prevent another vanity campaign. So much is wrong in that, but I’ll just address the “corrupt wife” thing–for folks who haven’t been following along, this is a bizarre story that’s been promoted primarily by Republicans in Vermont (including one of Trump’s campaign officials). There is an investigation, but to just call her “corrupt” is at this point a ridiculous thing to do. The vanity campaign bullshit is self-evidently bullshit, so I’ll let that one lie. All that said, I don’t think Sanders is the right guy to run this time. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/44 "2018-06-13T13:12:09Z")
Sanders won’t run as a third party, because he’s not an idiot, and he values getting policies enacted over his own personal power, and he knows exactly what effect his running as a third party would have. Personally, I think that Hickenlooper is the front-runner right now. I’m not certain that it’ll be him, but he’s the guy to beat. And the fact that he wasn’t invited to one of these meetings with Obama tells me that the meetings weren’t with prospective candidates. Name recognition means nothing at this stage. Whoever ends up being the candidate will have all the name recognition they need, just by virtue of being the candidate. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/45 "2018-06-13T13:42:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Sanders won’t run as a third party, because he’s not an idiot, and he values getting policies enacted over his own personal power, and he knows exactly what effect his running as a third party would have. He’s learned a lot in the last year or so, then. > [@](#): > > Name recognition means nothing at this stage. Yes, and that’s all this thread, or any other such discussion, is really about at this stage. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/46 "2018-06-13T13:46:31Z")
Both Obama and (Bill) Clinton gave prominent speeches at the conventions before the ones they were nominated at so they had plenty of in-party exposure and a bit of an intro to folks that follow politics. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/47 "2018-06-13T14:02:02Z")
That settles it. The nominee will be Khizr Khan. [The speech roundup from the 2016 convention](https://mic.com/articles/150127/democratic-convention-2016-full-recap-highlights-best-speeches-and-more#.GHQec3eBf), for reference. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/48 "2018-06-13T16:36:08Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > I also think there’s too much sexism in this country for the Democrats to chance this election with a female candidate. How do you support that conclusion when Hillary won the popular vote despite all her real and imagined baggage? Or are you suggesting that she’s somehow poisoned the well for women candidates for the next few election cycles? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/49 "2018-06-13T16:39:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Personally, I think that Hickenlooper is the front-runner right now. I’m not certain that it’ll be him, but he’s the guy to beat. And the fact that he wasn’t invited to one of these meetings with Obama tells me that the meetings weren’t with prospective candidates. I agree on both counts. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/50 "2018-06-13T18:21:17Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > [Inside Obama’s secret meetings with 2020 contenders](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/11/obama-2020-elections-sanders-warren-635165) > > Not so much secret as unpublicized, but anyway. > > As of Monday, the sources said, Obama had met with > Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. > Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. > Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. > former Vice President Joe Biden > former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick > former New Orleans Mayor > former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder > Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti > former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander > South Bend, Ind., Mayor Peter Buttigieg > > I recognize about half the names and only have opinions on a few. But I’m more interested in who you think will best represent the left in the 2020 elections. Feel free to suggest any other nominees you think would be better suited. A few comments. Sanders will be how old in 2020? He might not even live out his first term if elected? The DNC played dirty politics against Sanders Warren has no interest in running, she’s a loud mouth who likely fabricated her ancestry. Biden passed in 2016, he too is old. Mitch Landrieu. A mayor a mid sized city from the South? No chance, though he is an interesting guy. I have seen him speak. General Eric Holder - An attorney general who acted and spoke before the facts? The other names, I do not know or have only heard of in name before. That’s what you call a weak bench. The primaries will be interesting ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/51 "2018-06-13T18:30:10Z")
It is looking more like this is actually more about setting up a support team than vetting actual nominees. That said, who would all of you like to be seen put forward as viable candidates? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/52 "2018-06-13T18:58:42Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Both Obama and (Bill) Clinton gave prominent speeches at the conventions before the ones they were nominated at so they had plenty of in-party exposure and a bit of an intro to folks that follow politics. Obama’s 2004 speech raised the roof and is one of the best political speeches of all time. But, Bill Clinton was mocked for his overly long nominating speech for Dukakis at the 88 convention. I still happily voted for Clinton in the 1992 general election. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/53 "2018-06-13T19:28:28Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > That said, who would all of you like to be seen put forward as viable candidates? Biden/Booker 2020! ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/54 "2018-06-13T19:32:45Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Biden/Booker 2020! As Delaware goes, so goes New Jersey. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/55 "2018-06-13T20:14:01Z")
My quatloos are on Hickelooper/Duckworth. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/56 "2018-06-13T20:21:56Z")
Mayor of South Bend ? No love for Altoona mayor? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/57 "2018-06-13T20:29:42Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > There seems to be a name missing from that list, but I just can’t put my finger on who it is. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. Everyone loves that guy. He is a nerd, but he also started on of the first brewpubs in the country. He doesn’t have a lot of international experience, but he’s a very smart guy. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/58 "2018-06-13T20:37:08Z")
Didn’t see he’d been mentioned a couple of times already. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/59 "2018-06-13T20:43:10Z")
He probably has to take an intermediate step (Senator or Governor) first, and there’s the Massachusetts Fatigue factor to consider, but Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-6) is an impressive man. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980/60 "2018-06-13T20:55:19Z")
Come now - it so obviously should be [Popovich/Kerr](https://www.popovichkerr2020.com/). Anything else is virtually unthinkable :). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-meets-with-potential-2020-contenders/815980.md?page=4)