That’s usually a problem with candidates with no money and no base of support among the party elite. Most politicians aren’t able to campaign up to expectations because there are serious gaps in their knowledge despite their experience. Those gaps are filled by advisors who coach them on what to expect at debates and interviews. Chaffee and Webb couldn’t afford that kind of help.
Fair point.
Elizabeth Warren. Cory Booker for Veep.
Warren will be 71 next election day. Let’s get serious…this year was her last best shot.
Trump is 70, Hil is 69. No biggie…
I think we need to stop worrying about age, if we have a potentially great candidate. I don’t know if Warren or Bernie would be great, but if they wouldn’t it’s not because of their age.
Don’t discount Cory Booker. The comparisons with Obama will be inevitable but I think he is a better communicator than Obama. Obama is fantastic when reading a speech and not nearly as good off the cuff. I’ve see Booker speak three times with no notes, no teleprompter, no prepared speech. He held an audience like no one I have ever seen. The contrast between him and other professional politicians was striking.
Age will always be a worry. It’s a tough job and takes it’s toll on anyone who is in office, even one who is young and active like Obama. No one wants to vote for someone who they think won’t be up to the job.
MY moderate, voted-for-Clinton-out-of-necessity-only-and-votes-GOP-in-other-races-sometimes white guy best friend who lives in Silicon Valley is a huge Kamala Harris fan, as is his wife. They voted for her without hesitation. If she ran for President I think they’d volunteer for her campaign.
Oh come on. What are the odds of a junior senator from Illinois who’s an ethnic minority and has a funny sounding name getting elected Pres…
… oh, right.
Good point. One week after the 1988 Presidential election I had no idea who the hell Bill Clinton was.
Hear, hear! I suspect the number of Americans agreeing with this statement is going to rise sharply between now and 2020.
The first time I ever heard of him was at the '88 Democratic National Convention, in which he gained some short-term notoriety for giving a 33-minute speech, when he’d been allotted only half of that time. When he announced his presidential bid in '91, my first thought was, “The long-speech guy?”
So,** Stranger On A Train**?
In which I review all Democratic Senators and Governors under age 60 as of today, not counting those who were first elected last week, and gauge their suitability for the 2020 nomination based on a preliminary skim of their Wikipedia page.
(alphabetical by state)
Michael Bennett, CO – former investment banker, moderate. Pro-Keystone, which I guess counts as demonstrating independence but certainly won’t win him my vote.
Chris Murphy, CT – looks like a pretty consistent progressive, gay marriage backer since 2005. Possible.
Chris Coons, DE – kind of a nonentity. Founded Senate Chicken Caucus to uphold the interests of chicken farmers…that’s about it.
Brian Schatz, HI – Young, progressive, strong commitment to dealing with climate change. I like him.
Gary Peters, MI – Took a leadership role in the Federal rescue of the auto industry, criticized Obama for not cutting spending, supported Occupy movement. Represents a crucial swing state. Intriguing.
Amy Klobuchar, MN – Seems like a middle-of-the-road Democrat, possible safe compromise choice.
John Tester, MT – Strong on campaign finance reform and income inequality, anti-Patriot Act. He butchers his own meat and brings it with him to Washington. However, he is pro-gun, there have been some ethical questions and he has been criticized by environmentalists. Would represent a daring move toward the rural white guy vote, but could he bring the rest of the party along?
Cory Booker, NJ – I had gotten the idea that he had better progressive credentials than he actually seems to; more of a fiscally conservative and socially progressive type. Stuck up for Bain Capital during the 2012 election. Regarded as a charismatic campaigner. He’s vegan!
Martin Heinrich, NM – Pro-gun but otherwise seems progressive, strong environmentalist, took leadership in fight against Congressional pay raises. Possible choice if we decide to give up on gun control.
Kirsten Gillebrand, NY – Seems widely respected by her colleagues and political observers. Active in fighting sexual assault in the military. But she flip-flopped on a lot of issues when she moved from representing a conservative Congressional district to a liberal State, which raises issues about her integrity.
Jeff Merkley, OR – Was the first Senator to endorse Sanders, and has the record you would expect based on that. If you’re looking for a younger Bernie, which I for one pretty much am, this could be the guy.
Bob Casey, Jr, PA – On most issues a pretty mainstream Democrat…but pro-gun AND anti-abortion? Even for the sake of winning Pennsylvania, I don’t see this happening.
Tim Kaine, VA – Mainstream Dem. Just ran for Vice-President and made no impression at all on me.
Maria Cantwell, WA – Strong environmentalist and pro-choice advocate, but a free-trader who supported the Iraq war.
Tammy Baldwin, WI – Strong progressive record, and has (obviously) won in Wisconsin. She is a lesbian, which may or not make a difference to you.
Of this lot, I would call Baldwin my current frontrunner, edging out Merkley based on proven swing state appeal. I would also be interested in hearing more about Murphy, Schatz, and Peters. When I have time I’ll try to look over the Governors.
I’ve worked with his office, and talked with one of his public relations guys, and Peters isn’t real keen on campaign-y type stuff. He’s a good guy, a smart guy, and popular in Michigan, but I get the feeling he really only does the schmoozy and campaign stuff when and because he has to. He likes to get out among the people with town hall things, but actual campaigning doesn’t seem to be his bag. I wouldn’t count on him being a prez candidate. More of a work horse than a show pony, and you need some sizzle with your steak when it comes to presidential campaigns.
She’s a year younger than Trump, who presumably will be running for re-election.
Why wait, it’ll only take you a minute or two.
Governors-
John Hickenlooper- Good prospect, nice guy, unconventional
Daniel Malloy-Typical NE Democrat
Jack Markell- Total nonstarter, business friendly Delaware Democrat.
David Ige- There’s nothing political that stands out about Ige, but he has an interesting resume. An expert on tech issues, something which would be incredibly valuable in our modern age, yet we never really consider it important in a President unless we’re making fun of the fact that a candidate doesn’t use email.
John Bel Edwards- Southern Democrat, good if the Democrats are desperate, but I have a feeling they want to go left.
Jay Nixon- Nixon’s a fighter, has had to contest with a Republican legislature. May attract Democrats the way Dean did, by being really pissed off.
Steve Bullock- Montana governor
Andrew Cuomo- Great prospect but might be too much dirt on him. While Republicans can’t bring down someone who is mostly clean, our side knows very well how to magnify and exaggerate candidates who are actually a little shady.
Kate Brown- First bisexual governor, governor of progressive Oregon. Apparently she’s made a lot of enemies in Oregon’s Democratic Party, not by taking stands on principle, but for looking out for Kate Brown.
Tom Wolf- Governor of Pennsylvania
Gina Raimondo-Rhode Island.
Peter Shumlin- Vermont. Failed to make single payer happen, won’t be popular with progressives. Another reason why governors don’t do well in Democratic primaries anymore. Democrats may like reality in their science, but aren’t fans of reality in their politicians.
Terry McAuliffe- Never in a million years. All of Clinton’s baggage plus even more intensely pro-Wall street. The party seems to be moving away from his type in a big way.
Earl Ray Tomblin- West Virginia. Not a chance, too conservative.
Mark Dayton- Now here is a guy a lot of Democrats seem to like. Been a very successful progressive governor, a rare feat.
Ok, I’d forgotten about that.