I think our Democratic nominee will be someone off the radar right now. I would vote for Klobachar, Warren, Booker, Harris, Gillibrand, Biden, Brown, Beto, Castro, Bernie… any of them in a heartbeat. All are good candidates with something to offer, and all would make fine Presidents. Any difference between them is splitting hairs.
I don’t think any of them will be our nominee.
Why? Jimmy Carter came out of nowhere in 1976 because he was a fresh face to a country tired of politics, and offered nothing if not sincerity and honesty. I think the country will be looking that direction in 2020, and the Democratic electorate, which nearly pulled the surprise of the post WW II years by nominating Bernie, will surprise us and nominate a new face, who will then go on to win.
Trump is going to get more unpredictable and nastier as he gets squeezed. Very likely we will have national emergencies and other wag the dog events. He will probably use his bully pulpit to tear down the potential front runners in ways unimaginable in the past. He may not even be the nominee in 2020. In this climate...
I think someone surprises and catches fire in the early primaries, holds their own and makes a compelling argument. I don’t know who that is. But its a hunch.
Who could it be?*
*Note, I firmly believe the Dems should nominate a woman, but that may not happen here. And if you ask, my picks are 1) Kobachar, 2) Warren, 3) Harris.
Andrew Yang — promoting a Universal Basic Income, a novel concept whose time may have come
Pete Buttigieg — makes a strong case for electing a younger person, certainly says all the right things, could be the next Beto
Stacey Abrams — Why not? Seems like the same arguments used to support Beto apply to her.
My gut tells me we are going to be surprised.