# The 2016 Democratic Candidates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 20, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400 "2015-01-20T18:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/481 "2015-08-02T06:57:06Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Maureen Dowd is an edgy hag who has even more of a hate-on for Hillary than Rush Limburger. You sound like you were raised by Dopers. I’ve never been prouder! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/482 "2015-08-10T13:57:16Z")
Sanders is running for the party’s nomination for President but is still unwilling to say he’s a Democrat. Feh: [http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/bernie-sanders-2016-democrats-121181.html](http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/bernie-sanders-2016-democrats-121181.html) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/483 "2015-08-10T22:40:22Z")
It’s not much, but O’Malley has seen a steady rise in his polling in Iowa. He’s up to 7% now. The last poll had him at 5%, the poll before that at 3%. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ia/iowa\_democratic\_presidential\_caucus-3195.html](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ia/iowa_democratic_presidential_caucus-3195.html) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/484 "2015-08-16T19:24:33Z")
We’ve got our first small Gore entrance buzz: > **[Al Gore Insiders “Figuring Out If There’s A Path” For Him To Run](https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/al-gore-insiders-figuring-out-if-theres-a-path-for-him-to-ru)** > > An adviser pours "lukewarm" water on the prospect. Not ice cold. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/485 "2015-08-16T19:36:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We’ve got our first small Gore entrance buzz: > > [Al Gore Insiders “Figuring Out If There’s A Path” For Him To Run](http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/al-gore-insiders-figuring-out-if-theres-a-path-for-him-to-ru#.odM4OEVgw5) From what I saw on the cable news networks over the weekend this looks like nothing. IIRC there’s been “hints” that Gore would run in every election since 2000 (except for 2012). I doubt that it’s any more than that this time. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/486 "2015-08-16T19:38:02Z")
How old is Gore? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/487 "2015-08-16T19:48:46Z")
60-something? Dunno. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/488 "2015-08-16T19:49:58Z")
67, younger than any of the major candidates on the Dem side. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/489 "2015-08-21T15:15:15Z")
Another Dem tosses his hat, er, collar into the race: [Non-human electoral candidates - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limberbutt) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/490 "2015-08-21T15:26:36Z")
We could do worse, and sometimes _have_. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/491 "2015-08-21T16:18:36Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Another Dem tosses his hat, er, collar into the race: [Non-human electoral candidate - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limberbutt) I like his position on top of the bookcase. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/492 "2015-08-21T17:53:09Z")
I wonder if he’ll have long political coat_tails_? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/493 "2015-08-24T17:33:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s interesting that all of Clinton’s opposition were not Democrats when her husband was President. You’d almost think that Republicans were trying to get two shots at her, so they sent a couple of their moderates over to the Democrats to try to take her out. It’s almost like there has been a shift in the political landscape since the '90s. I mean, what’s this “Tea Party” business, and what does that have to do with politics? I’m not a tea drinker, but I don’t see anything wrong with parties. I’m definitely meh on Clinton. I’d like another strong candidate. Her perpetual baggage of dishonesty and lawyering her answers is off-putting. Sure, she has the experience and knowledge to enter the White House running - she was a major advisor and contributor to Bill’s political career all the way back to his first Governor run in Arkansas. Just because her title was “First Lady”, don’t let that fool you into thinking she wasn’t an informed contributor. But she carries a lot of baggage. Biden seemed like a sensible candidate back in 2008, but his terms as VP have given him a reputation as someone who makes a lot of stupid remarks. I know the media up plays any kind of drama they can create, and his clownish image is as much a creation of the late night comedy set as anything else, but it’s hard to get around his penchant for making stupid off-the-cuff remarks, and his rather creepy behavior towards women. I don’t know what to make of Bernie Sanders. Trying to read up from this thread, but he is oddly off. Jim Webb had a few points in his favor, but his remarks about the Confederate Battle Flag… I have some southern friends who have been trying to argue the culture angle. They sincerely feel the push to get the flag down was a “Blacks trying to stick it to whites, get another thing in”. I know, trying to get sense to get past their persecution complex is tough. But there are other things I’m not solid on Webb, either. O’Malley is getting my attention. I’d love to see him push his agenda and avoid the attacks, which appears to be his strategy despite the media’s attempt to color any conversation as an assault on Hillary. Still, he’s got a tough road to overcome her presumed lock on the party. I suppose I can hope he gets enough attention without too much animosity that maybe he can garner the VP slot under either Clinton or Biden. That would put him in great position for later as well. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/494 "2015-08-24T19:29:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I like his position on top of the bookcase. You can also rely on him to be on top of pending legislation, especially if someone is trying to read the bill at the time. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/495 "2015-08-25T03:42:58Z")
President won’t rule out an endorsement: > **[White House won’t rule out Obama primary endorsement](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/251805-white-house-wont-rule-out-obama-primary-endorsement/)** > > Earnest offered few clues about which candidate Obama may ultimately endorse.  If the President endorsed Biden, that would be the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/496 "2015-08-25T03:59:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If the President endorsed Biden, that would be the end of it. Timing is everything in that. Not ruling out an endorsement could mean that after one candidate build a significant lead he weighs in with an endorsement to simply end the protracted struggle. The link doesn’t rule out endorsing someone other than Biden either. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/497 "2015-08-25T04:17:51Z")
Yeah, but a Clinton endorsement would have less of an effect except to put a final nail in Biden’s coffin if he was struggling. The types of voters Obama’s endorsement would have the most effect on would be black and young voters, the former of which are behind Clinton tremendously. If Obama can get African-Americans to support gay marriage he can certainly get them to support Joe Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/498 "2015-08-25T19:09:10Z")
Biden used to seem respectable when he was a senator, but as VP he’s something of a joke - a creepy old joke. Clinton is too Republican, and not trustworthy. The actual Republicans are either Tea Party crazy, or just stupid crazy. Sanders wears the socialist label proudly - that’s a hard sell in the general election. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/499 "2015-08-27T06:04:18Z")
I’m curious as to why you think Biden is a joke as VP. VP’s only get attention when there is a good soundbite or visual for TV. I think he’s done done a good job behind the scenes and out the spotlight. [http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/08/24/potential-biden-run-puts-white-house-in-a-bind/](http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/08/24/potential-biden-run-puts-white-house-in-a-bind/) > [@](#): > > In offering praise for the vice president, Mr. Earnest [press secretary] noted that Mr. Obama had said in the past that adding Mr. Biden “to the ticket as his running mate was the smartest decision that he had ever made in politics.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/500 "2015-08-28T05:01:16Z")
I get that VP’s, by the nature of their job, aren’t high profile for their positive contributions. It’s like the old joke about the guy who went off to become VP, and was never heard from again. But there sure are a lot of goofy, not well planned statements coming from his mouth. And some creepy moments with women. And him doing finger points from the chair behind Obama at the State of the Union. Things like that don’t sing his praises. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400.md?page=26)