Democratic Primaries

pat_k

(9,313 posts) Tue Jun 11, 2019, 06:59 PM Jun 2019

Allan Lichtman: Democrats Might Do Better With An "Off-The-Wall" 2020 Candidate Rather Than Safe Est

Joe Biden's name recognition puts him ahead of the "pack," but I really hope he doesn't end up being the nominee. I don't think he generates the kind of passion needed to turbocharge turnout and I think that in a "head to head" campaign with DT, he'll be vulnerable to attacks as a quintessential beltway insider -- as symbol of "what's wrong" in DC compared to the "maverick" appeal DT has for far too many.

We can't let the strength of the "anti-Trump" sentiment make us over-confident again. I agree with Lichtman (who correctly warned about DT's 2016 victory). It would be a mistake to go with Biden as the "safe" establishment choice.

RealClear Politics
Historian Allan Lichtman: Democrats Might Do Better With An "Off-The-Wall" 2020 Candidate Rather Than Safe Establishment Pick
Posted By Tim Hains
June 7, 2019

Alan Lichtman, an American University professor who has correctly predicted the outcome of the past nine presidential elections and author of The Case For Impeachment," told HILL.TV this week that based on his predictive system Donald Trump might be on course to win in 2020 unless the economy falters or he is impeached.

He also had some suggestions for Democrats about who to nominate to defeat Trump, saying "the conventional wisdom is all wrong."

"The conventional wisdom you hear from Nancy Pelosi and others is we need to go down the center line and nominate an establishment, experienced, proven candidate, and they’ve done that many times," he said, listing: "Mike Dukakis in 1988, Al Gore in 2000, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton."

"And what do they all have in common? They all lost," he said. "It’s the off-the-wall candidates -- the Carters, the [Bill] Clintons, the Obamas -- who no one expected who have won."

...

I also agree with Lichtman, that a Democratic win in 2020 requires the start of impeachment proceedings -- that "absent impeachment, timid democrats will be empowering Donald Trump and handing him reelection in 2020"