# South Carolina Primary Discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 10, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733 "2020-02-10T15:19:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/81 "2020-03-01T04:49:08Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Steyer seems like a decent human being. > > Him running for president was a giant mistake, but he is a good person. I think he donated $100 million to democratic elections in 2018, and 80 million in 2016. Yes, I just wish he had thrown his hat in the ring earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/82 "2020-03-01T04:49:54Z")
I have been the biggest Biden basher here but even I will admit that his speech was good. He showed some heart for a change. He sounded like he had some energy and confidence for once. There’s a big difference between a one-way speech like that and a debate, though. My fear is that if he’s the nominee, he would be extremely rattled in the debates and appear confused, old, and tired. However, there’s also a chance that he would be so angry at Trump that he’d throw out all the decorum and let his inner Irishman off the leash - that might actually work. Raw, unscripted, emotional energy can work. Attempting to be cool and collected when his mind is actually like a pinball machine will not work - he will just mumble and stutter and hesitate. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/83 "2020-03-01T05:16:46Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > I have been the biggest Biden basher here but even I will admit that his speech was good. He showed some heart for a change. He sounded like he had some energy and confidence for once. > > There’s a big difference between a one-way speech like that and a debate, though. My fear is that if he’s the nominee, he would be extremely rattled in the debates and appear confused, old, and tired. However, there’s also a chance that he would be so angry at Trump that he’d throw out all the decorum and let his inner Irishman off the leash - that might actually work. … If he is against sanders, that might be a problem, yes. Sanders is good at debates. But against trump? No problemo. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/84 "2020-03-01T05:25:16Z")
I vote in Michigan on March 10. I told my wife this morning that my vote is still for Bloomberg, unless Biden overperforms in SC \*and \*does well on Super Tuesday. So now Biden’s half way to winning my vote back. Heck of a day for Joe. ETA: And if anyone’s looking for Joe’s victory speech, [here it is.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEH4cmm_Zlg) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/85 "2020-03-01T06:17:00Z")
I am _so_ ready for these primaries to be over. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/86 "2020-03-01T06:49:59Z")
FUCK YEAH!!! The Empire strikes back! ---
**Author:** ![pjacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@pjacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjacks)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/87 "2020-03-01T06:52:49Z")
You know the Empire were the bad guys right? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/88 "2020-03-01T06:54:20Z")
From a certain point of view. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/89 "2020-03-01T11:36:56Z")
Say what you like about the tenets of the Dark Side - at least it’s an ethos. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/90 "2020-03-01T12:10:27Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Say what you like about the tenets of the Dark Side - at least it’s an ethos. 😃 ---
**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:** [March 1, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/91 "2020-03-01T13:51:21Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Biden had a fabulous night, gave the speech of his life and will be on the air for free with clips of that speech the next two days. We got ourselves a race again. I think he tops 15% in CA and TX and prevents a delegate bonanza for Bernie. Yeah, that and I think he probably saved himself in Virginia, too. Bernie will still have a good night on Tuesday, but it’s a question of how good. Does he blow Biden out of the water or does he just win? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/92 "2020-03-01T14:21:36Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I vote in Michigan on March 10. I told my wife this morning that my vote is still for Bloomberg, unless Biden overperforms in SC \*and \*does well on Super Tuesday. > > So now Biden’s half way to winning my vote back. Heck of a day for Joe. > > ETA: And if anyone’s looking for Joe’s victory speech, [here it is.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEH4cmm_Zlg) Why do you vote for a winner instead of a candidate’s platform? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/93 "2020-03-01T18:08:13Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why do you vote for a winner instead of a candidate’s platform? Well, see- to me - \*\*Job One is Dump trump. \*\* Their platform, youthful peccadillos, and all that is secondary. And honestly their personal platform doesnt matter that much. Bernies UHC plan is the platinum cadillac plan- which will never, _ever_ get passed by Congress. Cant happen, wont happen. Period. Even if the Dems win the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/94 "2020-03-01T18:33:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why do you vote for a winner instead of a candidate’s platform? What DrDerth said. Imo, stopping Trump means stopping Bernie. Figuring out which of the leading moderate candidates will be able to most effectively do both gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/95 "2020-03-01T18:46:12Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I’m surprised Steyer didn’t hang on for just 2-3 more days, just so he could see out of curiosity’s sake how many votes he’d get on Super Tuesday. I mean, he’s come this far. I don’t think Steyer is a ‘good person’ because he funds left leaning causes. I really think the idea that being left or right leaning is itself is morally good/bad or vice versa is a poisonous and societally corrosive one. However I would assume his quitting the race now is because he wants the Democrats to win, realizes after this showing (in his strongest state, per previous polls) he won’t be nominee, and to clear the field for those who actually might be. Which is not being a ‘POS’ or ‘lacking heart’. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/96 "2020-03-01T19:39:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If he is against sanders, that might be a problem, yes. Sanders is good at debates. > > But against trump? No problemo. Uh, yeah, there could be a big problemo. Biden has shown again and again that he’s shitty at responding to questions - he’s rattled and defensive when responding to the moderators, and he’s even _worse_ when responding to other people on the debate stage. When someone throws a tough question his way, it becomes a major uphill battle for him to just answer the question at all, let alone answer it with confidence and authority. If he’s the nominee, he will finally get a break from debating and have the opportunity to deliver stump speeches, which could work out better for him. I think he has the capacity to sound good when he’s just delivering a one-way speech to an audience. If he does that enough, in enough places around the country, he could build up momentum and get voters energized. But then he’s going to have to face Trump in the debates and I really hope he can stand up to the heat. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/97 "2020-03-01T19:44:22Z")
Anyone have any doubt that Bernie can run rings around trump in a debate? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/98 "2020-03-01T19:48:54Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Anyone have any doubt that Bernie can run rings around trump in a debate? I have far more confidence in Bernie vs. Trump than Biden vs. Trump. Joe beats himself on a debate stage. It’s nothing but, ‘Sputter, Obama, Time!’. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/99 "2020-03-01T20:59:05Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Anyone have any doubt that Bernie can run rings around trump in a debate? Trump doesn’t debate, he screams, interrupts and lies. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733/100 "2020-03-01T21:08:16Z")
I’ve never heard him scream during a debate. He does interrupt and he does lie, but I think that can be reasonably expected to happen in most debates between human beings. The debates really aren’t about the candidates’ policies. They’re about the candidates flexing on each other. Like it or not, it’s part of the process. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-carolina-primary-discussion/847733.md?page=6)