# Will/could/should the democrats draft Joe Biden? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 4, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451 "2016-06-04T01:20:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/41 "2016-06-06T13:06:12Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > The term “Shylock” is no more inherently anti-Semitic than the term “Quisling” is anti-Norwegian. Then I guess we may conclude that “Quisling” is inherently anti-Norwegian. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/42 "2016-06-06T13:36:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > To win. Biden’s as close to a sure thing as you can get. Clinton is a great way to make a slam dunk election into a contest. > > The real question is why would any party nominate someone with a -15 approval spread on purpose? Republicans have gone nuts, but Democrats still at least aspire to sanity. Nominating such a deeply unpopular candidate is not a very good way to demonstrate sanity. Well that is reality. Biden being nominated is fantasy ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/43 "2016-06-06T13:43:30Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > To win. Biden’s as close to a sure thing as you can get. Clinton is a great way to make a slam dunk election into a contest. > > The real question is why would any party nominate someone with a -15 approval spread on purpose? Republicans have gone nuts, but Democrats still at least aspire to sanity. Nominating such a deeply unpopular candidate is not a very good way to demonstrate sanity. If Sanders or Biden were the nominee they’d have the same negative ratings. The Republicans create these ratings. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/44 "2016-06-06T14:02:15Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > To win. Biden’s as close to a sure thing as you can get. Clinton is a great way to make a slam dunk election into a contest. > > The real question is why would any party nominate someone with a -15 approval spread on purpose? Republicans have gone nuts, but Democrats still at least aspire to sanity. Nominating such a deeply unpopular candidate is not a very good way to demonstrate sanity. I don’t trust your political instincts. Biden already said he couldn’t put himself 100% into the campaign, and that’s why he didn’t run. I’d much prefer a dedicated, 100%-in Hillary Clinton to a mourning, 50%-out Joe Biden, in terms of being likely to win, as much as I like Joe (and as much as I’m sad for him). Remember Fred Thompson? Without desire and dedication, a candidate won’t have much of a chance. Hillary has won (or all but won) because most Democrats like her. Nominating an experienced candidate that most Democrats like is pretty par for the course, and probably fits about half of the party’s nominees. > [@](#): > > Most importantly for voters like me, when the GOP nominates an insanely unelectable candidate, why can’t you just make it easy for us? This race has shades of that LA gubernatorial election, Duke vs. Edwards. Racist vs. crook. Many of you keep on saying that Republicans will fall in line behind Trump anyway eventually, but if so, that’s only because they don’t exactly have a viable alternative. You’ve said multiple times that Hillary will be a pretty good president. Have you changed your minds? This seems like a direct contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/45 "2016-06-06T14:18:04Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Yes. If she withdraws (due to health or whatever) _before_ the Convention, the nomination will probably go to Sanders — anything else would cause huge anger. But what if she withdraws _after_ being nominated? The Democratic National Committee presumably gets to pick a replacement, right? Who would they pick? Who _should_ they pick? I think the obvious choice on who the nominee should be if Clinton has to withdraw after the convention would be the person she has picked for VP. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/46 "2016-06-06T14:43:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If Sanders or Biden were the nominee they’d have the same negative ratings. The Republicans create these ratings. Yes, exactly. She had much higher approval ratings [before she started running for president](http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/hillary-clinton-favorable-rating). I do think those numbers might reflect an element of [sexism](http://qz.com/624346/america-loves-women-like-hillary-clinton-as-long-as-theyre-not-asking-for-a-promotion/) that wouldn’t be present for Sanders or Biden, but that isn’t a good reason to deny her the nomination. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/47 "2016-06-06T19:26:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Many of you keep on saying that Republicans will fall in line behind Trump anyway eventually, but if so, that’s only because they don’t exactly have a viable alternative. Utter nonsense. You’re right that Hillary is very unpopular among ignorant white men, and you’re right that Republican Establishment figures are soiling their pants with their eagerness to endorse their racist nincompoop. But the idea that the first fact is the reason for the second is absurd. We now know that many Americans would vote for The Devil Himself if he had an “(R)” by his name. Many Americans would never vote for such a nasty racist blowhard. As usual, the election will be decided by those “in the middle” — Americans too stupid and poorly informed to have a clue. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/48 "2016-06-06T22:09:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If Sanders or Biden were the nominee they’d have the same negative ratings. The Republicans create these ratings. You give us more power than we are due. Biden is the Vice President. The most popular Vice President in a long time. Sure, as a candidate we’d probably land a few punches, but how much? Has he ever been accused of anything other than the 30 year old plagiarism allegation? Is his inability to control his mouth really a detriment at this point? Some candidates make our jobs easy. Clinton is ethically challenged, Sanders is a socialist. Obama wasn’t so easy to nail. Actually, the only punches we were ever able to actually land on the guy originated with Clinton(no experience, gives nice speeches, arrogance). This idea that all candidates are equally attackable is nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/49 "2016-06-06T22:11:05Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > You’ve said multiple times that Hillary will be a pretty good president. Have you changed your minds? This seems like a direct contradiction. She will be. That does not mean we can’t do better. In a time when voters hate career politicians and want change, why would we elect the epitome of the dishonest insider? At this point are people really just hungering for someone who will do business as usual, just better? I know that’s not what young voters want. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/50 "2016-06-06T22:13:41Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Yes, exactly. She had much higher approval ratings [before she started running for president](http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/hillary-clinton-favorable-rating). I do think those numbers might reflect an element of [sexism](http://qz.com/624346/america-loves-women-like-hillary-clinton-as-long-as-theyre-not-asking-for-a-promotion/) that wouldn’t be present for Sanders or Biden, but that isn’t a good reason to deny her the nomination. It’s because Clinton is good at doing her job. She’s a terrible candidate but a good officeholder. She’ll probably see good approval ratings are President too. It’s just that scandal hurts a candidate more than it does a current officeholder. If the health care website had failed in 2012 instead of 2013, if the IRS scandal had been revealed in 2012 instead of 2013, if the VA scandal had exploded in 2012 instead of 2015, Mitt Romney would be President. Likewise, Clinton won’t have to explain her emails in 2020, she’ll have to explain all the other shady shit she did while President. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/51 "2016-06-06T22:14:58Z")
How about you let us Democrats decide who we want, using our publicly announced, months-long and well-publicized, selection process and you Republicans worry about cleaning up the enormous Shit-Godzilla that is bearing down on your own convention? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/52 "2016-06-06T22:24:50Z")
Because you’re showing yourselves to be only marginally more fit to decide who your candidate should be than we are. Actually, if polls are to be believed, you’re precisely 4 approval points smarter than us. Not sure how that converts into IQ, but my rough back of the envelope calculation says that if the GOP IQ is about 40 right now, the Democrats’ is about 50. We’ve come a long, sad way from McCain vs. Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/53 "2016-06-06T22:49:10Z")
Pretend all you want with your made-up “math”, but you guys shit the bed with your nomination. Thanks for your concern, but we’ll pass on your “advice”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/54 "2016-06-06T22:49:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The smart thing to do would be to nominate Biden at the convention. That will be their only shot. No backsies after the convention. IOW, the Eagleton Rule? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/55 "2016-06-06T23:05:40Z")
The Torricelli rule. The nation isn’t New Jersey. You cannot actually nominate someone you know is under investigation and then pull them when it looks like a loss is imminent. the Supreme Court isn’t corrupt like New Jersey courts. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/56 "2016-06-06T23:11:13Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Pretend all you want with your made-up “math”, but you guys shit the bed with your nomination. Thanks for your concern, but we’ll pass on your “advice”. “Shit the bed” by nominating Trump? Pffft…they’ve shit all over the room, smeared it on the walls and are now rubbing it in their hair. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/57 "2016-06-06T23:35:10Z")
And yet your candidate is only a few points more popular. Don’t try to claim this is the best you can do. I believe in your party more than you do if that’s what you actually believe. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/58 "2016-06-06T23:46:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Because you’re showing yourselves to be only marginally more fit to decide who your candidate should be than we are. No, Hillary really is orders of magnitude better than Trump. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/59 "2016-06-06T23:51:08Z")
THe public doesn’t agree with that, even if I concede it’s probably true. Nate should be calling this one in June. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451/60 "2016-06-06T23:58:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > THe public doesn’t agree with that, even if I concede it’s probably true. Nate should be calling this one in June. Nate is way, way too smart to call any election this early, no matter the candidates. We’ll see in November. Right now the betting markets have it at about 2.5 to 1. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-could-should-the-democrats-draft-joe-biden/756451.md?page=4)