# 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:** 13
**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 22, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/241 "2018-10-22T18:24:37Z")
I’m not sure I like the idea of a mayor for President (at least, not without some other office in between). Sure, the larger cities like New York or LA are bigger than most states, and nobody blinks at a governor running. But those large cities are also very much unlike the rest of the country, and it would make it hard to portray such a candidate as caring about rural, or even smaller urban, issues. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/242 "2018-10-22T20:36:47Z")
I would also be worried that a big city mayor has a track record of corruption or dealing with corrupt people, because big cities in America seem to be cesspits of corruption. ---
**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 22, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/243 "2018-10-22T21:08:45Z")
“a noun, a verb and 9/11” AKA America’s mayor Rudy G ran in 2012 and went nowhere. ---
**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 23, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/244 "2018-10-23T00:07:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m not sure I like the idea of a mayor for President (at least, not without some other office in between). Sure, the larger cities like New York or LA are bigger than most states, and nobody blinks at a governor running. But those large cities are also very much unlike the rest of the country, and it would make it hard to portray such a candidate as caring about rural, or even smaller urban, issues. FTR, we’re talking about a big-city mayor _from Texas_ who was also _Secretary of Housing and Urban Development_. If the favorite-son status would sway Texas (would it? I dunno) it should be very tempting to run Castro. Nobody’s claiming that Julian Castro is the Messiah born again. I’m just looking for _any_ alternative to Joe Biden whose 76th birthday is less than a month away. ---
**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 23, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/245 "2018-10-23T00:23:51Z")
And let me point out: The first time I saw Dukakis debate Bush, I felt confident he would lose. Kerry also lacked “Presidential stage presence.” In 2016, O’Malley, Webb, Kaine, JEB! — none of them looked remotely Presidential to me. _ **As long as I’ve been alive, the more charismatic candidate has won, every time!** _ In the other thread I posted links to YouTubes for those who wanted to listen to Julian Castro. Those touting Booker, Klobuchar, whoever? I don’t seem them proudly showing off their candidates’ charisma. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/246 "2018-10-23T00:49:47Z")
I want to see Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of New Orleans. He’s a guy who cuts across cultural and racial barriers, and he has balls. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/247 "2018-10-23T01:04:16Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > And let me point out: > > The first time I saw Dukakis debate Bush, I felt confident he would lose. Kerry also lacked “Presidential stage presence.” In 2016, O’Malley, Webb, Kaine, JEB! — none of them looked remotely Presidential to me. > _ **As long as I’ve been alive, the more charismatic candidate has won, every time!** _ > > In the other thread I posted links to YouTubes for those who wanted to listen to Julian Castro. Those touting Booker, Klobuchar, whoever? I don’t seem them proudly showing off their candidates’ charisma. Quick search for Kamala Harris on the stump … found [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YwZOMJlmLE) from 2016 at the CA Democrats Convention, start at about 4:00 in. Yeah she’s _good_, real good, on the stump. And proven in other contexts, able to think on her feet. I’m really warming up to her. Just compared her speech to Julian Castro’s speech at the 2012 convention. He’s fine, but she’s better. More relaxed. More … _real_. And she comes off _stronger_. But you are right - nominations and general elections are not won on the basis of resumes. They are won by those who can hit the chords that resonate with enough of the electorate, who have a vision they can express with believable passion. Not hearing that level of charisma or toughness youtubing Hickenlooper or Bullock either. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/248 "2018-10-23T01:18:28Z")
Mitch Landrieu. Trust me on this one. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/249 "2018-10-23T01:19:31Z")
Maybe a Kamala-Mitch ticket? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/250 "2018-10-23T01:29:25Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The Dems have a big problem in that the type of candidate they need to actually win is someone like Bill Clinton - a southern governor with a track record of relative moderation from the center left. Someone like Phil Bredesen would work. > > The problem is that the Democrats have moved hard left, and a person like that would never get the nomination. So I expect the Democrats to put up someone like Kamala Harris or Cory Booker or Elizabeth Warren - and lose again. > > Going after Trump’s character is not going to work, since there’s not a single Republican out there who isn’t aware of Trump’s faults. They don’t care. You guys keep dredging up scandal after scandal, and it makes no impact on the electorate at all. Trump’s character issues have been fully discounted. Unless you can find a dead body, it won’t matter. > > Democrats have to get back to politics and win by convincing the public that they will be better stewards of the economy. That’s what people actually care about. Show them why you are a better choice if you want their vote. Screaming at Republicans, chasing them out of restaraunts, clawing at the Supreme Court doors - these are loser moves that are alienating everyone who isn’t already in your base. This is correct. This is how Trump’s polemic works, because initially he divided the Republicans, but they rallied around him. The division is among the opposition: how do they respond to Trump? That is _the_ question. Do they respond with a centrist white guy or a hard left woman/minority. The hard truth is that a hard left woman/minority guy might drive away white centrists and independents - and simply depress turnout among others. People point out that Trump’s approval rating is the lowest ever, and I say ‘So what?’ He won with the lowest approval rating ever. Hell, he won even though he lost the national vote. The hard reality is that Trump can win election after election after election with only a 40-45% approval rating. We’re in a new age. About 10 or 20 years ago, party leaders were assured of at least - minimum 45-50% of the vote because people were loyal to parties. Not anymore. Trump could have 40-45% approval, but then we’d have half of his opposition saying we should move to the center and half saying we should move to the hard left. Trump’s 40-45% can beat a divided progressive front. That’s why I opposed Bernie Sanders’ protest campaign. All he did was divide the vote. And unfortunately, I think opposition is still divided. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/251 "2018-10-23T01:38:57Z")
Mitch sounds too much like bitch or witch which are not a words you want even subconsciously evoked when a woman runs in the general election. I’d go with Sherrod Brown of Ohio myself. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2018, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/252 "2018-10-23T11:44:35Z")
But whenever he wins a debate or a race, we can say that his opponent got…Mitch-slapped. ---
**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 23, 2018, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/253 "2018-10-23T12:25:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **septimus** : > > As long as I’ve been alive, the more charismatic candidate has won, every time! A slight addendum to that: What matters is not the charisma itself, but its absolute value. Hillary Clinton had zero charisma, while Donald Trump has a very large but negative charisma. Clinton’s charisma was therefore greater, but the absolute value of Trump’s was greater. **asahi** , in what sense did Sanders split the vote? He ran in the primary. He didn’t run third-party in the general once he lost the primary. ---
**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 24, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/254 "2018-10-24T11:46:56Z")
Google remembers I’m a McRaven fan, so [it just put a video of this 4-star admiral in my YouTube feed.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUw17k7iQOE) It’s from 3 years ago; McRaven is praising FBI Director Robert Mueller at a fund-raising gala. He seems charismatic enough to me. Why aren’t we spearheading the _Draft McRaven_ movement? The Texan who killed Osama bin Laden could hardly lose an election. All the other Democratic choices are quite iffy. ---
**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 24, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/255 "2018-10-24T18:20:00Z")
I’d be fine with McRaven. He seems principled and not a Trump suck-up. Pair him with someone who can bring in what he lacks and we might have some traction. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/256 "2018-10-24T18:48:57Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I’d be fine with McRaven. He seems principled and not a Trump suck-up. Pair him with someone who can bring in what he lacks and we might have some traction. I’ve said McRaven paired with one of the following would be fairly unstoppable: [Hilda Solis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Solis), former Congresswoman from CA, progressive, union-friendly, Obama’s Labor Secretary, currently on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. She’s female, Latina, the daughter of immigrants, the daughter of union members and a Teamster organizer. She’s got a nice connection to the Obama presidency at a time when many Americans are feeling nostalgic, yet wasn’t a high-profile member of the cabinet with a bright-red target on her head. Photogenic, good speaker. Only downside: From California, but with Mcraven at the top, that’s less of an issue. [Brenda Lawrence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Lawrence), Congresswoman from Michigan, progressive, worked her way up in government: former school board member, city councilwoman and mayor of Southfield, MI (one of the most racially, economically, religiously and politically diverse cities in Michigan), retired career Postal Worker (started as carrier, ended in HR), former union member, husband is retired UAW, African-American, has been doing a lot of cable talking head stuff. Downside: Largely unknown (which could also be an asset as she’s got no GOP target on her). Elizabeth Warren (least favorite of the three, but would bring a good economic message and hardcore name recognition to the ticket). Now granted, two of those three are very outside-the-box choices, but I think paired with McRaven (and facing off against Pence on the debate stage), they’d be awesome, filling in the gaps on the top of the ticket nicely. Seriously, septimus, how do we draft this guy to run? You’re the only other person who seems to share my dreams here for this guy. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/257 "2018-10-24T19:18:08Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I’ve said McRaven paired with one of the following would be fairly unstoppable: > > [Hilda Solis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Solis), former Congresswoman from CA, progressive, union-friendly, Obama’s Labor Secretary, currently on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. She’s female, Latina, the daughter of immigrants, the daughter of union members and a Teamster organizer. She’s got a nice connection to the Obama presidency at a time when many Americans are feeling nostalgic, yet wasn’t a high-profile member of the cabinet with a bright-red target on her head. Photogenic, good speaker. Only downside: From California, but with Mcraven at the top, that’s less of an issue. > > [Brenda Lawrence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Lawrence), Congresswoman from Michigan, progressive, worked her way up in government: former school board member, city councilwoman and mayor of Southfield, MI (one of the most racially, economically, religiously and politically diverse cities in Michigan), retired career Postal Worker (started as carrier, ended in HR), former union member, husband is retired UAW, African-American, has been doing a lot of cable talking head stuff. Downside: Largely unknown (which could also be an asset as she’s got no GOP target on her). > > Elizabeth Warren (least favorite of the three, but would bring a good economic message and hardcore name recognition to the ticket). > > Now granted, two of those three are very outside-the-box choices, but I think paired with McRaven (and facing off against Pence on the debate stage), they’d be awesome, filling in the gaps on the top of the ticket nicely. > Seriously, septimus, how do we draft this guy to run? You’re the only other person who seems to share my dreams here for this guy. Yes, he looks good. Als of course Harris could be Veep. or Duckworth. ---
**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 24, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/258 "2018-10-24T19:31:38Z")
[Here’s a CNN opinion piece from just two months ago](https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/20/opinions/admiral-mcraven-for-president-2020-trump-wheeler/index.html) that outlines reasons that Bill McRaven would be the ideal candidate. Another [opinion echoes the CNN piece](https://www.businessinsider.com/seal-william-mcraven-who-slammed-trump-eyed-for-spot-on-2020-ticket-2018-8) and mentions Joe Biden’s recent praise. But “Citing health concerns, McRaven has announced plans to step down from his current position as Chancellor of the University of Texas System later this year.” Whether true, or just an excuse, this doesn’t bode well. We now know that competence and policies don’t matter to a large plurality of American voters. Without a flamboyant hero like Admiral Bill McRaven opposing Trump on the stage, I fear the nightmare may continue for another four years. ---
**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 24, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/259 "2018-10-24T20:28:50Z")
In recent history, it seems like military flag officers have generally not been interested in running for office. I have sort of a theory about why. Among the military people that I know personally, a very common topic of conversation is how much of a pain in the ass the bureaucracy of the military is. To hear them tell it, the only thing that’s _more_ of a pain in the ass is having to deal with _civilian_ bureaucracy. It could simply be that after all the years of putting their time in, these people simply want to be done with it, rather than volunteer for even more. The only flag officer that I can remember in my own lifetime running for president was Wesley Clark, and his campaign did not go well. Edit: oh, also, James Stockdale was Perot’s VP. That also did not go well. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/260 "2018-10-24T23:12:13Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > … Why aren’t we spearheading the _Draft McRaven_ movement? … Because of his [health issues](https://www.statesman.com/news/20171216/ut-system-chancellor-bill-mcraven-to-step-down-citing-health-concerns). He has chronic lymphocytic leukemia (since 2010) and as mentioned recently had to step down as chancellor of UT due to those issues. It was not just an excuse; he had been hospitalized earlier in the year. His current health would likely not allow him to handle the demands of a campaign and would be considered disqualifying by many voters. [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=12) [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=14)