How Amy Klobuchar could yet pull off the nomination - Jennifer Rubin

[question everything]

The reception U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., got at New Hampshire’s Democratic convention on Saturday should have put a smile on her face. Here was the Midwest gal-next-door who had been in hiding or gotten overshadowed. She joked with the crowd, “My state of Minnesota and New Hampshire have a few things in common. We both love sweaters. We both love our lakes and our forests. We both have voters who have been ahead of their time when it comes to electing not one, but two women to the United States Senate!”

Her message was simple, but effective: “At a time when Donald Trump wakes up every morning trying to divide us, using immigrants as political pawns, belittling people who don’t agree with him, destroying our democracy with dark money and voter suppression, and allowing a foreign country to make mincemeat of our democracy, we need a candidate for president who understands that what unites us as a country is greater than what divides us, that has a track record of winning Democrats and independents and moderate Republicans in every place, in every race, every time.” She might have added, “And who is decades younger than he is, is a skilled prosecutor and knows the heartland better than he does.” Certainly her agenda is more clearly aimed at rural states than any Democratic presidential contender with the possible exception of Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

“Let’s bridge our digital divide. As president, I will connect every household to high-speed internet by 2022. I figure if they did it in Iceland, they can do it in New Hampshire,” she declared to friendly applause. “Let’s close the transportation divide by investing in infrastructure and yes, getting commuter rail to Manchester and beyond.”

If former Vice President Joe Biden is grave in denouncing Trump’s character, Klobuchar is lively and funny. “Donald Trump’s idea of diplomacy is waking up before the sun comes up and sending out a tweet in his bathrobe, extolling the virtues of Kim Jong Un and then before the sun goes down, going after Denmark and Greenland,” she said. “As I said a few weeks ago, what’s the difference between Donald Trump and Greenland? Greenland is not for sale.” She threw in for good measure: “And as your president, Democrats, I will pledge that I will never have my vice president stay in a resort I own. Oh, that’s right. I don’t own a resort.” And Klobuchar would make it easy for many disgusted Republicans to cross party lines and vote for her.

(snip)

If you squinted just a tad, you really can see a plausible path to the nomination for her. Biden, who is testing whether enthusiasm is a necessity in a presidential primary, is beloved but compares poorly at times to more dynamic speakers, and that includes Klobuchar. If voters drift off, or if he finishes poorly in Iowa and New Hampshire, the moderate contingent of the party will look around. She may be the only one meeting that description and still standing at that point. If so, Democrats would find out the benefits of occupying the segment of the electorate from center-left to center-right.

http://www.startribune.com/how-amy-klobuchar-could-yet-pull-off-the-nomination/559838372/

[Andy823]

1. I am OK

With Klobuchar, I really like her. I am OK with Harris, Warren, or Klobuchar. All three would make great presidents, and all three could kick trumps butt.

[backtoblue]

3. +1 nt

[madaboutharry]

2. I like her too.

[highplainsdem]

4. I like her, too. Don't see her ever replacing Biden in the primary race, but I like her.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. As I've said before-- what I like about Klobuchar is the impression her "Git 'er done" attitude...

Let other people come up with the plans and glom on to the best and/or most doable one and push it.

And, as much as some people scream that going middle of the road is selling out, it is good to remember that the hard left is likely smaller than the hard right, and most definitely smaller than the middle. We must give the middle reasons not to simply tolerate us as the lesser evil, but reasons to actually want us to run things.

[TSIAS]

6. This article is nothing to brag about

Jennifer Rubin is a lifelong neoconservative who has supported the worst politicians and wars in America's history. Jen Rubin can rot in hell for all I care, and take David Frum and Bill Kristol with her.

[DrToast]

10. It is possible to evaluate an opinion on its own merits.

[question everything]

11. Oh please. She has written many articles that were praised here

even on occasions appeared on an MSNBC talk show to rave reviews.

[thesquanderer]

7. re: "more dynamic speakers, and that includes Klobuchar"

Based on the debates, I would not call her a more dynamic speaker than Biden.

But yes, she could benefit if Biden somehow derails. So could Buttigieg, who also is pretty moderate overall, and similarly midwest based, and currently polls better than Klobuchar.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. I really hope Klobuchar gets the VP nod. I think she'd strengthen the ticket in the Midwest. nt

[DrToast]

9. She absolutely could still win it

And I hope she does because I don’t think Trump would know what to do with her. She’s smart as hell and quick on her feet in ways I don’t really see in other candidates. Mayor Pete is probably pretty close though.