# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/81 "2018-10-02T17:57:00Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not birtherism if it’s an argument over actual facts. As long as we agree she was born in Thailand to an American citizen parent, it’s fair to argue over whether she’s eligible. What’s the argument? Children of American citizens (even 1 American citizen + 1 foreign national) are citizens from birth, in all but a very, very few circumstances (IIRC something weird about living in the US for 7 years at some point after turning 18 or something like that), no matter where they’re born. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/82 "2018-10-02T18:53:26Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I’d never heard of Amy Klobuchar until I was astounded during the Kavanaugh hearing. I had. Looks like she’s been wearing her contact lenses lately, which may mean something. ---
**Author:** ![pjacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@pjacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjacks)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/83 "2018-10-02T19:42:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not birtherism if it’s an argument over actual facts. As long as we agree she was born in Thailand to an American citizen parent, it’s fair to argue over whether she’s eligible. See, it already begins. I’m fine with her sticking around as my senator instead. Maybe a cabinet position down the road. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 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/821229/84 "2018-10-02T19:57:40Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not birtherism if it’s an argument over actual facts. As long as we agree she was born in Thailand to an American citizen parent, it’s fair to argue over whether she’s eligible. John McCain was born in Panama, and he was the Republican nominee in 2008. So the precedent of “natural born citizen” meaning “citizen at birth”, not just “born inside the United States” has already been established. And Tammy Duckworth’s father was a WWII, Korean War, & Vietnam war veteran who is [buried in Arlington National Cemetery](http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fgduckworth.htm). Yeah, let birther types try to argue his daughter isn’t eligible to be President. ---
**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 2, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/85 "2018-10-02T21:25:22Z")
Not even that: John McCain wasn’t a citizen at birth. At the time he was born, there was a weird loophole in the law that was retroactively corrected while he was a child. But he was still a citizen by virtue of the circumstances of his birth, which is apparently good enough. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/86 "2018-10-02T22:01:56Z")
> [@pjacks](#): > > See, it already begins. > > I’m fine with her sticking around as my senator instead. Maybe a cabinet position down the road. I live in Illinois and I think the world of Duckworth. But our state is an economic shambles. I know the US Senator has nothing to do with running the state or its finances, but could incompetence-by-association hurt her? ---
**Author:** ![pjacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@pjacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjacks)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 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/821229/87 "2018-10-03T00:49:53Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I live in Illinois and I think the world of Duckworth. But our state is an economic shambles. I know the US Senator has nothing to do with running the state or its finances, but could incompetence-by-association hurt her? I don’t know if that would stick as a criticism, but her stint running Illinois’ Department of Veterans’ Affairs was apparently a disaster and could be mined for a lot of controversy by Rebublicans. ---
**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 3, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/88 "2018-10-03T01:12:54Z")
I used to think that a sufficiently strong Democratic candidate could beat Trump in 2020. I don’t feel that way anymore. I think his cult of personality is so powerful, and his support base too strong in all the states that matter, for him to be defeated in the next election. I think the only way Trumpism can be overcome is to simply wait out his second term. Trumpism is totally centered around Trump. When he is no longer president, it won’t really be able to exist anymore, and I do not see a successor for him on the horizon. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/89 "2018-10-03T12:13:35Z")
I don’t know, the trial heat polls look disastrous for him, unless the Democrats actively try to screw things up by going for the candidate they want, rather than the alternative the public wants. ---
**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 3, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/90 "2018-10-03T15:28:38Z")
A little update on Booker’s personal life. [Cory Booker trying to keep relationship with Chanda Gibson a secret](https://pagesix.com/2018/10/01/cory-booker-trying-to-keep-relationship-a-secret/)? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/91 "2018-10-03T17:55:04Z")
> [@pjacks](#): > > I don’t know if that would stick as a criticism, but her stint running Illinois’ Department of Veterans’ Affairs was apparently a disaster and could be mined for a lot of controversy by Rebublicans. “Disaster” is overstating it quite a bit. A couple of whistleblowers claimed she ignored their appeals and tried to shut them down, and while their claim may have merit, her Republican opponent in 2016 didn’t get much traction with the issue. Considering the ongoing disaster that VA hospitals nationwide seem to be, and that she herself is a decorated vet, and that Trump tried to make his personal doc with no admin experience the head of the whole department, I think she’d be OK on the issue. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/92 "2018-10-03T18:45:21Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > I get less and less interested in the two-party horse race as time goes on, but as the OP didn’t say that only Democrats can answer, I’ll give my two cents anyway. I would tell Democrats that you want to beat Trump in 2020, there is one name by which you must be saved: **Bernie Sanders**. > On the downside, if Bernie, [that article he wrote in 1972](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bernie-sanders-essay/) is sure to resurface. Oh fuck no.Karl Rove and the Kremlin are salivating over Sanders as a candidate. You dont think they cant manufacture a credible Communist Party card with his name on it? Find his picture at a Communist rally? He would go down in flames, winning the least states on record. I like Biden. However, for a Veep you need a rust belter or Southerner (Delaware isnt Southern enough, but Biden does have Penn creds) and preferably a Woman or a minority- and someone younger- a lot younger. Hell, even tho I think Harris would make a HORRIBLE choice for Prez, I could see her as Veep. Tammy Duckworth would be great also. Booker might work. He’d be a excellent Veep also. My idea is for Biden to run as a one Term prez, then hand the reins over. His age wont be such a issue then. ---
**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 3, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/93 "2018-10-03T20:50:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Oh fuck no.Karl Rove and the Kremlin are salivating over Sanders as a candidate. You dont think they cant manufacture a credible Communist Party card with his name on it? Find his picture at a Communist rally? He would go down in flames, winning the least states on record. > > I like Biden. However, for a Veep you need a rust belter or Southerner (Delaware isnt Southern enough, but Biden does have Penn creds) and preferably a Woman or a minority- and someone younger- a lot younger. Hell, even tho I think Harris would make a HORRIBLE choice for Prez, I could see her as Veep. Tammy Duckworth would be great also. > > Booker might work. He’d be a excellent Veep also. > > My idea is for Biden to run as a one Term prez, then hand the reins over. His age wont be such a issue then. Another Biden / Harris supporter, I see. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/94 "2018-10-03T21:13:42Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Another Biden / Harris supporter, I see. Harris is not my first choice as veep/ ---
**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 4, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/95 "2018-10-04T00:58:05Z")
You can’t run to be a one-term President. If you try, what you end up doing is running to be a zero-term President. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/96 "2018-10-04T01:28:31Z")
Amy Klobuchar is my senator, and will win her election easily, but this is Minnesota after all. She’s been getting lots of exposure the last few years on MSNBC and of course has a high profile in the senate. I do know if she would excite anyone from other states though. I kind of wish Al Franken was still viable. For that matter, Paul Wellstone would have mopped the floor Trump. It’s painful for Minnesotan Democrats to remember the good times. I’d say Klobuchar, and don’t really know who should be VP. ---
**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 4, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/97 "2018-10-04T01:37:19Z")
Is this the time to test the viability of a female candidate, when the consolation prize is 4 more years of Donald Trump? I’m not SURE exactly if sexism was as big of a contributor to Hillary’s loss as a lot of people claim - it may have been all of her past baggage and an unlikable public persona more than the fact that she was a woman - but I don’t know if it’s a risk worth taking. I just don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/98 "2018-10-04T02:55:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Oh fuck no.Karl Rove and the Kremlin are salivating over Sanders as a candidate. You dont think they cant manufacture a credible Communist Party card with his name on it? Find his picture at a Communist rally? He would go down in flames, winning the least states on record. Should the Democratic Party choose a candidate based on what “Karl Rove and the Kremlin” will say about that candidate? Or should they choose a candidate based on who will actually rally Democratic voters? If Democrats are considering the “let’s take a boring centrist because then the Republicans won’t attack him/her” theory again, ask yourself one question: how did that work out in 2000, 2004, and 2016? Where’s the evidence that it ever works? ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/99 "2018-10-04T03:22:31Z")
Hickenlooper and Tulsi Gabbard. Both of whom are too smart to run so long as the economy keeps going gangbusters, and the US isn’t up to its neck in some hideously unpopular war. EDIT: I believe her birth in American Samoa, to a father who became a naturalized US citizen at age 1, and an American citizen mother, should satisfy the citizenship requirement, but I’m not 100% on that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-your-pick-for-best-most-likely-to-win-democratic-ticket-for-2020-then-say-why/821229/100 "2018-10-04T06:19:10Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Should the Democratic Party choose a candidate based on what “Karl Rove and the Kremlin” will say about that candidate? Or should they choose a candidate based on who will actually rally Democratic voters? > > If Democrats are considering the “let’s take a boring centrist because then the Republicans won’t attack him/her” theory again, ask yourself one question: how did that work out in 2000, 2004, and 2016? Where’s the evidence that it ever works? No, they should pick a candidate based upon their electability in the general election. Anyone branded (with solid evidence) as a Commie will lose. Simple as that. Why on earth do you think that someone who couldn’t rally Dem voters in the last Primary will magically do so now? Bernie will rally his fans- which are about 40% of the Democrats. That’s not enough to win. Bernie lost even worse that Hillary did. Rove and the Kremlin won it for Trump by making up lies about Hillary. Look, even here in this thread- “The Democrats nominated the least popular person, so she lost”- and what made Hillary so unpopular so fast? Karl and the Kremlin and the power of social media. I am not saying take a boring centrist so much as take someone that isnt ready made for the GOP Big Lie campaign. And who isnt a loser already. [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=4) [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=6)