Democratic Primaries

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

6. Lessons from the 2020 primaries

Wed Mar 11, 2020, 09:59 AM

Mar 2020

Debates don't matter
Money doesn't matter
Ground game doesn't matter
Ads don't matter

This may be a one-off primary because of the unusual times in which we are living (Trump + COVID-19), but it seems that we have upended all the conventional wisdom the political analysts have (perhaps wrongly) depended on for years. All of the vectors on which they predict a candidate's strength seem to have been thrown out of the window by voters.

It seems that what is counting right now, in this moment at least, is neither money nor field offices nor debate acumen nor television ads. What it seems that the voters are looking for is: character, trust, empathy, and a return to saner times.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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I don't know why so many people think Sanders can take Biden in a 1-on-1 debate [View all] wyldwolf Mar 2020 OP

+1000. It's also obvious that Sanders will yet again get R B Garr Mar 2020 #1

In my opinion we're now beyond the point where any additional debate is needed. The "will of abqtommy Mar 2020 #2

Guns too. ucrdem Mar 2020 #3

Sanders debating skills are very much overrated... comradebillyboy Mar 2020 #4

Yes. He doesn't debate. He harangues, always the same harangue. emmaverybo Mar 2020 #14

A big contrast will be their demeanors Siwsan Mar 2020 #5

Lessons from the 2020 primaries frazzled Mar 2020 #6

So true, frazzled. cilla4progress Mar 2020 #34

It's all they have left. They're betting everything on the "dementia" nonsense. TwilightZone Mar 2020 #7

I don't know who will perform better at the debate. If Biden excels pampango Mar 2020 #8

"This debate will have been good practice for Joe." TwilightZone Mar 2020 #9

Lol, then what are you worried about? Nt USALiberal Mar 2020 #13

Not worried about anything. TwilightZone Mar 2020 #17

The debate hurts no one. Nt USALiberal Mar 2020 #23

If Joe needs no practice, he should do exceedingly well. That is good news. n/t pampango Mar 2020 #18

The bad news is that Sanders is not getting out even though he has no path to the nomination which Demsrule86 Mar 2020 #21

I disagree. It's 4 months to the convention, 8 months to the election. pampango Mar 2020 #29

It is over...Sanders is out of the race...he can't make up the delegates...and no one cares about Demsrule86 Mar 2020 #12

The convention is 4 months from now. The election is almost 8 months away. pampango Mar 2020 #15

The sooner we turn to the general the better and beating up on our presumptive nominee Demsrule86 Mar 2020 #20

If you care at all about Sanders withdrawing in a way that maximizes the number of his supporters pampango Mar 2020 #25

I disagree with your premise...staying in longer does not maximize support for Biden among his Demsrule86 Mar 2020 #30

Sanders supporters not so dumb as to not be able to read the handwriting on the wall. pampango Mar 2020 #32

Here is the other thing...your candidate will not be the nominee...people know who Sanders is and Demsrule86 Mar 2020 #19

Sanders will stand down. Look he was the 'frontrunner' just 11 days ago or so. Give him pampango Mar 2020 #22

It is foolish to subject our nominee to a debate where he is attacked...we need to come together Demsrule86 Mar 2020 #31

If Sanders were leading I would expect him to debate Biden as long as necessary. pampango Mar 2020 #33

Bernie will rant and bluster and turn red in the face. Nitram Mar 2020 #10

At this point, there are two motives for Sanders in the debate. Politicub Mar 2020 #11

True karynnj Mar 2020 #16

Most likely we will witness a more thorough discussion of real issues Tom Rinaldo Mar 2020 #24

I hope you are correct and hope they converge to saying as Warren did that they have karynnj Mar 2020 #35

The next debate is going to be boring. honest.abe Mar 2020 #26

All Sanders does is wave his arms, point fingers and scream the same stuff he has screamed redstatebluegirl Mar 2020 #27

The voters have overwhelmingly decided the debate, its time to beat trump! empedocles Mar 2020 #28

sandes is a very weak debater Gothmog Mar 2020 #36