One thing is becoming clear to me: Trump has spent months chewing up Establishment candidates, and Hillary is an Establishment candidate.
So, getting this out of the way, I am a Bernie Supporter, but I will vote for any Dem candidate in the general. But I cannot say I get politically enthused about Hillary, even if she would be the first woman president. That’s not enough to get me charged up, as I would prefer any of three other Dem women instead.
Yes, Hillary advocates for a number of things that are certainly progressive, but her support of a number of establishment causes, like trade deals, is huge fodder for Trump. Yes, she changed her stance on TPP, but that just adds more fuel, and were I her opponent I’d jump on that. She simply does not have outsider credentials. Her ties to banks, to the foundation, and to long term controversial issues like bankruptcy will hang around her neck. This is not a year when establishment ties are as much of a help.
If this were a reasonable nation, I’d say that yes, at this point she should beat Trump handily. But we’re not reasonable. We have an angry, shallow thinking segment of the population that wants the simple, conspiratorial, even nonsensical, snake oil that Trump is peddling. And we have two candidates whose negatives are high. This does not bode well for a big turnout, esp. on the Dem side. I think she has far more chance to win the further progressive she goes, but I am not sure that is her most comfortable space.
And if I was Trump, and was asked which Dem I wanted to face in the general, I’d say Wasserman Schultz first (if she was running), and Hillary second. He’s gonna be fighting the exact fight he wants.
I am hoping I am wrong — and I am looking forward to being so. But I think this is gonna be a lot tighter election than most think, and heaven help the nation if he wins.