# State your pick for best (most likely to win) Democratic ticket for 2020. Then say why. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 12, 2018, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229 "2018-09-12T16:40:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**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:** [October 16, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/201 "2018-10-16T19:34:46Z")
the really liberal people are never going to like who the Dems nominate , last time most were for Sanders. So it’s no surprise they complained about Obama and Clintons. But all of 3 of them were left of center in my book. In 2016 our local liberal weekly paper endorsed Clinton in the primary and some acted like they had endorsed Satan. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/202 "2018-10-16T19:41:34Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > the really liberal people are never going to like who the Dems nominate , last time most were for Sanders. So it’s no surprise they complained about Obama and Clintons. But all of 3 of them were left of center in my book. > . Yes, they were moderate liberals. So indeed, left of center. But on a scale of 1-10,they were 4’s and Trump is a 9. So the Dems are running more moderate candidates than the GOP is. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/203 "2018-10-16T19:59:19Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I’m calling it. (Colorado has the 2nd-fastest growing economy in the Country.) > > **John Hickenlooper [for the Big Job](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe8FnYVSX0Y). > Kamala Harris [as his V.P.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqsT4xnKZPg)** > > That’s it, the final answer. The next two years will be anticlimax. Remember you heard it here … second. (I was Ninja’ed by **ElvisL1ves**.) > > _@ **Mods** , close the thread please._ Sounds good to me. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/204 "2018-10-16T22:02:17Z")
Julian Castro is likely to run in 2020. Former HUD secretary Also was San Antonio mayor [Julian Castro talks about "likely" run against Trump, where Clinton went wrong - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-hud-sec-julian-castro-on-his-likely-run-against-trump-where-clinton-went-wrong-in-2016/) ---
**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:** [October 17, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/205 "2018-10-17T01:35:39Z")
If I were running against Trump and had to debate him, literally the first thing I would say - my opening statement - would be “Donald, how does Melania feel about the fact that you fuck other women?” This is the time to be audacious. Any Democratic nominee who literally did that, and other things like it, would destroy the election. What would actually happen if a candidate said that during a debate? Would the moderators shut it down or something? What are they going to do, say “we’re going to cancel this whole debate because of that?” The crowd would be howling with laughter (and boos), it would be a madhouse, but what would they actually _do_? We need the kind of candidate who would consider all of that…and then say it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/206 "2018-10-17T01:44:07Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > If I were running against Trump and had to debate him, literally the first thing I would say - my opening statement - would be “Donald, how does Melania feel about the fact that you fuck other women?” You would lose lots of votes if you used “fuck”. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/207 "2018-10-17T01:58:10Z")
Bullshit. There isn’t a single person in this country - who is not _already_ in the bag for Trump - who would see that exchange in the debate and think, “well, I’m not voting for this guy because he said ‘fuck.’” That’s not how it is. All the old books have been thrown out here. There are no rules anymore. The country would eat that shit up. It would fire up Democratic voters like nobody’s business. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/208 "2018-10-17T13:42:35Z")
Trump didn’t lose any votes for his language. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/209 "2018-10-17T15:42:43Z")
Instead of “fuck”, just say “make love” using sarcastic [air quotes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_quotes). A _more_ effective insult _and_ avoids the bannable word. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/210 "2018-10-17T15:48:01Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > If I were running against Trump and had to debate him, literally the first thing I would say - my opening statement - would be “Donald, how does Melania feel about the fact that you fuck other women?” > > . She was asked about his affairs the other day and did not deny them. She said she had more important issues to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/211 "2018-10-17T16:13:33Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > She was asked about his affairs the other day and did not deny them. She said she had more important issues to worry about. Like how to get around the pre-nup. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [October 17, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/212 "2018-10-17T16:13:57Z")
That’s very different than putting Trump on the spot with the question RIGHT off the bat at the beginning of the first presidential debate with the entire country watching. I concede that it could backfire though if Trump’s response was “how do you feel about the fact that your wife fucks other men?” Which is the kind of thing he would do, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/213 "2018-10-18T19:39:45Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Not Hickenlooper. I disqualified him when he and John Kasich began kicking around the idea of a Kasich/Hickenlooper joint ticket. If Kasich has become a “moderate Republican,” then the battle is already lost. (Check his record.) That Hickenlooper would even consider such a joint run disqualifies him in my view based on his bad judgment. > > I want to see a Mark Warner/Tammy Duckworth ticket. They’re both young and have actual government experience. Both could be safely sacrificed from the Senate by 2020 and replaced by Democrats. They know how things get done. They understand the importance of diplomacy in a global world. > > Warner is wealthy, but he has voted against his own personal best interests as a senator (tax bill, e.g.). Duckworth brings the military cred. Plus they’re both simply stellar individuals, IMHO. Cite? I remember hearing people talk about such a ticket, but I never heard that Hickenlooper himself ever expressed strong interest in running. If so, I agree that should disqualify him. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/214 "2018-10-18T19:46:04Z")
they would probably find a way to blame Duckworth for her combat wounds. That’s what worked when they ran against Max Cleland for the GA senate seat. He lost both legs above the knees in Vietnam. They said it was his own fault. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/215 "2018-10-18T19:57:45Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I’m calling it. (Colorado has the 2nd-fastest growing economy in the Country.) > > **John Hickenlooper [for the Big Job](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe8FnYVSX0Y). > Kamala Harris [as his V.P.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqsT4xnKZPg)** > > That’s it, the final answer. The next two years will be anticlimax. Remember you heard it here … second. (I was Ninja’ed by **ElvisL1ves**.) > > _@ **Mods** , close the thread please._ I’m liking this ticket, though I would prefer it to be the other way around. Thinking in terms of getting racial, gender, _and_ ideological balance. Here is 538’s list of people who appear to be running for President at the current time (which isn’t to say that most of them won’t see which way the wind is blowing and drop out before ever formally announcing). Despite the fact that it seems ridiculously early, it takes a long time to ramp up a Presidential campaign these days, so I think it’s almost certain that the eventual nominee will be on this list: Lawyer Michael Avenatti; South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Montana Gov. Steve Bullock; former Vice President Joe Biden; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro; Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; California Sen. Kamala Harris; Former Attorney General Eric Holder; former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu; Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon; former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley; Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts; Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; Rep. Eric Swalwell of California; businessman and pro-impeachment activist Tom Steyer; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii Removing everyone whom I don’t see a reason to take seriously based on resume: Montana Gov. Steve Bullock; former Vice President Joe Biden; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker;Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; California Sen. Kamala Harris; Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon; former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii Biden, Sanders, and Warren are too old. Merkley represents the progressive wing, and I don’t think they particularly want a white guy who isn’t Bernie Sanders. McAuliffe is too closely linked to the Clintons. Gillibrand I think is going to be too easy to paint as insincere based on how much her positions have evolved. I don’t know anything about O’Malley, Inslee, or Schatz, and O’Malley already ran once. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker;Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; California Sen. Kamala Harris; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Either Bullock/Harris or Hickenlooper/Harris would be a good combo (or the other way around). Likewise Klobuchar/Booker or vice versa. Of course, if Harris is at the top of the ticket, there’s no shortage of moderate white guys to pair her with. Tammy Duckworth would be a good VP choice for Sanders or Merkley, but with anyone else you’re going to have either two women, two minorities, or two moderates on the ticket. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/216 "2018-10-18T20:02:49Z")
The TV debates normally only allow people who do above a certain level in polls. But I wonder if they might put a few extras for entertainment like Avenatti. Also recall in 2016 the GOP had the “kids table” debate because they had too many running. I think only Carly Fiorina got moved up to the main debates. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/217 "2018-10-18T21:35:10Z")
Back when I was in Montana, one of the gubernatorial debates was on campus, so I figured what the heck, why not go. It was the first debate, before the culling, so there were a couple of Republicans, a couple of Democrats, and about five stark raving loonies. It was entertaining, to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/218 "2018-10-18T21:57:02Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Cite? I remember hearing people talk about such a ticket, but I never heard that Hickenlooper himself ever expressed strong interest in running. If so, I agree that should disqualify him. First reference: [ABC News on George Stephanopoulos Report](http://independentpoliticalreport.com/2018/02/r-kasich-and-d-hickenlooper-unity-party-for-potus-in-2020/), February 25, 2018. Another reference: [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/kasich-hickenlooper-2020-president-tweets-2018-4), April 2, 2018. More teasing: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/25/politics/kasich-hickenlooper-2020-unity-ticket/index.html), August 25, 2018. And on the same day – finally – Hickenlooper dispels the notion. [The Hill](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/348034-hickenlooper-says-theres-no-unity-ticket-with-kasich), August 25, 2018. I won’t argue that Kasich always seemed more keen than Hickenlooper. But Hickenlooper fueled the speculation and did not affirmatively deny the claim for 6 months. Based on that, I believe he was seriously considering it, only waiting to see if there was any discernible support for such an idea. Not the guy I want at the top of any ticket. \We’ll see what happens, though.\ ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/219 "2018-10-18T22:16:16Z")
Aspenglow, your last link is misdated. Hickenlooper shot the idea down on August 25, **2017**. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/220 "2018-10-18T22:18:31Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Aspenglow, your last link is misdated. Hickenlooper shot the idea down on August 25, **2017**. You’re correct. In fact, _all_ dates are incorrect. But the point still stands. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229.md?page=12)