I think that was the most glaring omission in this election cycle-we had 2 septuagenarians contesting for the nomination. Where was some younger Democratic politician, perhaps groomed by Obama or someone to become the next heir apparent? Will we have such a figure in 2020? Do we need such a figure?
Cory Booker seems to be a rising star, along with Keith Ellison. But yes, the Democrats have a problem in that many of their stars are senior citizens and a lot of younger Democrats are perhaps not ready yet and need some time to be groomed, even if the party could really use more young blood now
Cory Booker, Keith Ellison would count I guess if we’re only talking about someone progressives really love, but he’ll never win statewide even in Minnesota. Tammy Duckworth, Jason Kander(even though he lost), Kamala Harris, and although not young, Tim Kaine and Martin O’Malley saw their profiles raised during the election season.
The Democratic bench is thin, but they can still put in a formidable “starting lineup” so to speak.
the young guns all have no bullets, ie no broad geographical appeal. Every election with a split electoral/popular vote result has had a very stark amount of regionalism; you can’t win an election by losing 2:1 in the South. Gore and Kerry only lost in the South 55-45, + or - a few points. Even elections without a popular vote/electoral split, but that were still close, like 2004, 1976, all showed severe weakness of the losing candidate in rural, small-town, less “enlightened” regions.
Democrats need to reinstate the Third Way and DLC, and accept social moderates and conservatives back into the party. Ditch or marginalize MoveOn.org, LeftAction, etc. There is a guy in Kentucky,Adam Edelen, who is worth a look.
It would be said to see the Democrats start doing what the GOP does when they lose: “liberalism never fails. You only fail liberalism.”
Booker is actually DLCish, as is Duckworth. But the party has changed, the lefties aren’t the same lefties as 30 years ago and the moderates aren’t the same moderates. Moderate Democrats used to mean “Wall Street Democrats” but nowadays moderate Democrats are more libertarianish. Being a liberal Democrat used to mean “working class New Deal Democrat” but now liberal Democrats are more into issues like civil rights, climate change, and income inequality. And income inequality is not the same as being a working class Democrat, there’s a lot of overlap but the priorities and methods are different than they were back when guys like Dick Gephardt and Walter Mondale were the big guns. This is mainly due to the Democratic coalition being different. 30 years ago the Democratic coalition was elderly voters, working class voters, and a much smaller pool of minority voters. Now it’s a big pool of minority voters and the highly educated. So not the same party at all.
white working class voters are rural, and yes, rural people are less accepting of non-whites. Nominating another black will not gain any rural working-class white voters. Its harsh, but Democrats need tough talk. And before liberals attack me, I’m not saying to discriminate against anyone. I’m merely saying to stop showcasing stuff that won’t sell well.
I think Duckworth’s military career will be widely accepted in rural areas, and Booker is pretty non-threatening at least. He has a moderate record and no radical history. DIdn’t “pal around with 60s terrorists”.
Your recommendations will receive all the consideration that they merit.
You know, I might ask this of Republicans too. The young guns I can think of just ran for president, and failed miserably.
They were occupying mostly the same space, while Trump just had to compete with Carson and Fiorina, while enjoying huge name recognition advantages over them.
Besides, at least half of successful nominees were unsuccessful the first time. Some of them will be back and do better the second time around.
Just out of interest, to what extent do your central or local party structures (as distinct from individual pressure groups) set up schemes to identify, select, train and mentor potential stars to work their way up the electoral ladders?