# So we seem to have only one sure candidate in 2020... **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 13, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496 "2018-01-13T00:04:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/41 "2018-01-17T12:38:09Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Warner sounds to me like another Tim Kaine. Let me just say that I never liked Tim Kaine all that mich, but Warner was an awesome governor; the bet Virginia had for a while. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/42 "2018-01-17T18:08:41Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > That pretty much puts **RTFirefly** ’s “pretty big commitment of time and energy” thought to bed, doesn’t it? And?? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/43 "2018-01-17T18:53:51Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > And?? It was kind of the whole point of your post #33. It was wrong. You were wrong. That’s not a huge deal, people are wrong a lot, but don’t you feel better now that a little bit of your ignorance has been fought? I know I do. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/44 "2018-01-17T19:23:31Z")
I could vote for him. He could work. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/45 "2018-01-17T19:47:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > He has the same problems Clinton did (minus 25+ years of whisper campaigning by the oppo party): he’s solidly, 100% corporate DLC establishment. Well, yes and no. Ask 100 Americans who Hillary Clinton is and 90 will know. (I realize you may not believe 10% of people won’t. You’d be surprised.) Ask 100 Americans who Terry McAuliffe is and at least 75 will either have no idea of only a vague idea he’s a politician. It wasn’t just that Clinton was establishment, it’s that people were tired of her. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > So excluding 2016 (what’s the call on Trump having been charismatic in 2016? I don’t know) I… what? Trump was the most purely charismatic candidate in your lifetime. You may not LIKE his charisma, but it’s basically all he had and it sure worked on a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/46 "2018-01-17T21:06:07Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > It was kind of the whole point of your post #33. It was wrong. You were wrong. > > That’s not a huge deal, people are wrong a lot, but don’t you feel better now that a little bit of your ignorance has been fought? I know I do. Well sure, but this supports what point that you’re making? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/47 "2018-01-17T23:16:03Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Well sure, but this supports what point that you’re making? The point was to fight (your) ignorance. Both you and **Chronos** were apparently impressed by something that never actually happened, that was the point I was making. McAuliffe made no admirable or impressive display of physical stamina or grit to sign a bunch of felon-voting-rights orders out of the goodness of his heart. ETA: This isn’t really that big of a mystery to you, is it? Are you playing coy for some reason? Trying to make some new point? It seems so straightforward to me, but I feel like I’m talking to one of those kids that just keeps asking “but why?” when I already told you. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/48 "2018-01-17T23:35:13Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > The point was to fight (your) ignorance. Both you and **Chronos** were apparently impressed by something that never actually happened, that was the point I was making. McAuliffe made no admirable or impressive display of physical stamina or grit to sign a bunch of felon-voting-rights orders out of the goodness of his heart. > > ETA: This isn’t really that big of a mystery to you, is it? Are you playing coy for some reason? Trying to make some new point? It seems so straightforward to me, but I feel like I’m talking to one of those kids that just keeps asking “but why?” when I already told you. No, I just can’t figure out why you’re in this thread at all. You don’t seem to have any larger point to make, no apparent interest in the debate we’re having in this thread. Which is why I’m saying: fine, I’m wrong with respect to this detail. Now so what? Why does this matter? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/49 "2018-01-18T00:38:21Z")
“ **So we seem to have only one sure candidate in 2020…** ” I’m sorry-“we”? What do you mean “we”, Kemosabe? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/50 "2018-01-18T15:57:20Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > This was the long-time opinion, but his stint as VA governor kind of changed that. He was fairly effective at actual political leadership in that position and I wouldn’t think twice about voting for him if he actually got the nomination. But his reputation as an operator is quite a bit longer than his reputation as a leader, and I’m somewhat wary of how “the optics” will affect the Bernie-types. He is a Clinton operative. He will hang on that rope. His “leadership” has been uninspiring in a state with full republican control of the legislature. His position on guns lost him several seats in the legislature that could have given him the room he needed to get some stuff done. I don’t see how he is any better than Martin O Malley ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/51 "2018-01-18T16:09:15Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > No, I just can’t figure out why you’re in this thread at all. You don’t seem to have any larger point to make, no apparent interest in the debate we’re having in this thread. > > Which is why I’m saying: fine, I’m wrong with respect to this detail. Now so what? Why does this matter? As for the broader debate, I assume my thoughts won’t be particularly welcome, but personally I’d be delighted if the Dems nominated Terry McAuliffe. He seems like a weak candidate to me. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/52 "2018-01-18T16:20:08Z")
It seems to me that there are basically two paths for the Dems to reclaim the Presidency in 2020: 1. the white way: win back some rust belt states like PA, WI, MI, possibly even OH. To do this, it seems that you’d want to find someone who appeals to those working-class whites that you’ve alienated. Terry McAuliffe, with the position he’s staked out on gun control, abortion, environmentalism, LGBT issues, etc. seems poorly-situated to do this. This is probably a tough one anyways given that this demographic seems to be Trump’s strongest. 2. the brown route: win TX / FL + AZ (and make sure you lock down NV & CO). To do this, it seems that you’d want to find someone who appeals to these states’ growing Hispanic populations. Terry McAuliffe, being your stereotypical stale old white guy, seems poorly-situated to do this too. I didn’t expect that “Win TX or AZ” would ever in my lifetime represent the _easier_ path for the Dems to win the presidency, but here we are. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/53 "2018-01-18T16:32:25Z")
Thanks _ever_ so much for your advice but, as my Uncle Lucky used to say, “That guy sitting across from you at the poker table may be the nicest and most intelligent sonofabitch in the world, but never forget-He is still the sonofabitch sitting across from you at the poker table.” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/54 "2018-01-18T17:04:06Z")
So, I’m wrong about something that, as best as **HD** can figure out, is neither here nor there with respect to any issue under discussion in this thread. I really have no problem with that. I’ve been wrong before, and I’ll be there again. And it doesn’t seem to matter with respect to any other point I was making. So it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/55 "2018-01-18T17:30:06Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > As for the broader debate, I assume my thoughts won’t be particularly welcome, but personally I’d be delighted if the Dems nominated Terry McAuliffe. He seems like a weak candidate to me. So, you want Trump to have a second term? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496/56 "2018-01-18T17:49:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, you want Trump to have a second term? I’d prefer Pence have his second term, but if I had to choose between President Trump for 2021-2024 or President McAuliffe, I’d choose Trump. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-we-seem-to-have-only-one-sure-candidate-in-2020/806496.md?page=2)