OK, I am officially Undecided again...

[FirstLight]

I guess it just feels like it is too soon? I've been into Bernie for a long time, and also liked Kamala because I feel the need for the Rule of Law to be re-instated...and yea, I like Joe too cuz he's familiar, and I know he already understands the job and the gravity of the work that needs to be done.

Whoever steps into that Oval Office has to hit the ground running to some degree. They will immediately be putting out fires and re-assembling a crumbled government.

That said, I also have my doubts about the peaceful transfer of power as this current clusterfuck administration continues to go off the rails.

So here's my question, why not wait for the field to narrow?..Or do you just choose to look at who's polling in double digits? Do the polls actually mean something to your personal decision to rally behind a candidate, or is it truly about their platform?

If it *is* about the candidates platform and policy, what was the thing that hooked you?


I am feeling like I need to calm down and stop hoping for big changes, that the next Administration is going to be too busy cleaning up the mess to really get anything BIG passed.

Thoughts?

[elleng]

1. It's not BETTING, it's choosing one's favorite candidate,

for whatever reasons; polls have nothing to do with my choice.

I'm waiting til MD's primary, to decide.

[FirstLight]

3. true...it's not a gamble by any means...

when is MD's primary?

(I'm gonna go look up the primary schedule for each state now )

[elleng]

9. April 28

[DownriverDem]

16. Why "like"?

Folks need to say more than I "like" so and so. How about who do you honestly think can win enough states to beat trump?

[LakeArenal]

2. Sorry I am no help

I knew Joe would run over a year ago when I saw him speak. I knew I would support him and I was and still am sure he can and will win.

I took the quiz on DU that had me aligned with Pete. I think Joe is making a mistake on pot. He is old but so am I and I think my mind is sound enough to make huge decisions on things I’m experienced with or things thrown at me by fate. I couldn’t care less about his over-hyped “gaffes”.

Joe Biden is the most qualified both nationally and globally. He’s well liked by everyone, even some on the other side.
Our allies in the world will breath a huge sigh of relief.
So will I.

[FirstLight]

6. I get it

Joe is definitely on the top of my short list...and I think some of these other (less experienced) candidates need to realize that they may have to wait till the next election to get the big pie in the sky changes they want. We need stability, there's no time for "on-the-job-training" here.

[thesquanderer]

4. The question is, if your primary were TODAY, who would you vote for.

Would you stay home? Or would you vote for someone? Anyone here who would vote for someone and knows who it would be is not really undecided. But we are all free to choose someone else tomorrow. The question is only who we would vote for today. It is not a commitment to vote for them next year. (I've already changed mine twice.)

But as to your question about polling, yes, in the end, it can affect my decision. Regardless of their positions or other qualities I may like, when primary day arrives, I will not vote for someone who is polling behind Trump in enough battleground states as to make it unlikely they would win in November. I don't consider it a deal-killer yet because it is early enough in the process for the polls to not be so reliable. But by early next year, that could be a reason I change my preference.

[FirstLight]

8. If it were TODAY

I wouldn't stay home, I would vote for *someone* but I am still basically down to an "eenie-meenie-miney-moe" of about 3-4 people...

Because I also get all up in my head and think my "one" vote is just a drop in the bucket and the world is going to go it's own way regardless of my individual push or pull....

[DownriverDem]

17. I'm voting

for who I think can honestly beat trump.

[thesquanderer]

22. At this point, I think we have a number of candidates likely to beat trump.

That may change, and I'll be looking at that closely before I cast my vote.

[4139]

5. There will be a January debate, likely fewer on stage, also February debate, likely only 4-5 people

Real debates will be clarifying!

I’m in Virginia so Super Tuesday

[FirstLight]

7. yeah, I looked up a calendar of important dates...

looks like March will be a big month for sure.

Funny, I was never this engaged in the primaries until now, maybe cuz I am (like many others) eager for a NEW Administration!

[StevieM]

12. I think the January debate, presumably to be held in Iowa, will probably have 6 candidates on stage.

I suspect that Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris will narrowly make the cut.

February will probably have more than just one debate. There will likely be debates in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

[GemDigger]

10. I should still be in the undecided bunch simply because I am in the last bunch to vote.

By then we will have had many drop out and the top tier will have changed position another 10 times.

[judeling]

11. I made the choice

To work for the candidate who I felt would get the most done soonest and give us the broadest wins possible.

Even though my choice is not in the current top tier, my reasons to support her remain unchanged.

[pazzyanne]

20. I feel the same way you do and continue to support Amy.

[secondwind]

13. You were probably an Undecided from the start, just didn't know it.. It's very hard to choose

someone a year before the election, with more candidates stepping up to the plate...

[caraher]

14. No need to feel you have to make a choice now

I see the DU candidate choice thing as simply a way to promote your choice if you have a favorite. If you don't, no big deal. We've got more "Undecideds" than backers of any specific candidate so you have plenty of company.

We'll all be on the same team come November and that's what matters most!

[northoftheborder]

15. The Ted-hour today....

had a segment on leaders in history who INSPIRED a movement....

Very thought provoking when I try to determine who, amongst the many seeking the highest office in the land....inspires me, inspires many others. That's what I'm looking for: someone who speaks of the country we want to become, to aspire to greatness, in measured words anyone can understand and follow..... but NOT in cliche's..... (like MAGA) ugh.

[FirstLight]

23. I get that...

I loved being moved and inspired by Obama.


However the pragmatist in me is thinking more about the next 4 years being a repair and redirect mission. So THAT is what I am looking for. I want shit to get done, but I also recognize the tremendous amount of DAMAGE being done to our entire Govt right now...ALL branches.

[quickesst]

18. everyone seems to forget....

.... that absolutely nothing good happens unless Trump is defeated. Joe Biden is the only candidate that the electorate is sure can do this. This is reflected by the GOP's full court press to discredit Biden. It is a 24/7 war against him. Where is the full court press campaign against Warren? Where is the full court press campaign against Sanders? Where is the fear of the rest of the of the candidates?
Ask yourself. When was the last time you heard any other candidates name from the GOP other than Biden?
Even if you flat out do not like Joe Biden, logic and common sense dictates that he is the only sure way to get out from under Trump's thumb.

[Sloumeau]

19. If you are not sure, take your time. You do not have to commit until your state's

caucus or primary. I'll tell you how I chose if that helps you at all:

1. "Who can beat Donald Trump" is most important thing to me, because if a candidate cannot beat Trump, whatever good qualities that he or she does have simply do not matter to me. Joe Biden has the overall highest average when polled against Trump. In the last survey I read, Biden beat Trump by 13 points.

2. I want someone with lots of political experience because Trump shows us what happens when someone with no political experience gets into the White House. Biden has 36 years in the Senate and 8 years as VP. No one has more experience than Biden.

3. I want someone who understands foreign policy well, because, as the Cuban Missile Crisis taught us, when the chips are down (or the missiles might be flying), you really need someone who will make the right decision. Joe Biden has traveled the world meeting with foreign leaders and other dignitaries.

4. I want someone who will be able to make deals with the Republicans and who can get legislation passed. To me, that's Joe Biden.

5. I want someone who lots of Democrats want so that they will vote for him again in the General Election. To me, that's Joe Biden. He has the highest polling average of anyone versus other Democrats.

6. I want someone who has devoted his whole life to the Democratic Party so I know that he will not betray us. To me, that's Joe Biden again.

Please feel free to take your time when making your decision. You have weeks and weeks to decide. If you have any questions about any candidate, you can just type their name in quotes in the Google.com search engine and you can learn all about whichever candidate you like. I've read a lot on all of the current top 10 contenders (the ones in the last debate). If you keep reading up on the candidates, I am sure that you will make a solid, informed choice. Also, Democratic Underground is a great place to get your questions answered. Just do what you did today and post your questions. As long as your questions are respectful, I foresee few problems. Good luck, and try to enjoy your search for the best candidate!

[Hortensis]

21. I did wait for the field to narrow AND for someone else

to rise to genuinely challenge Joe for the lead. No one's come close in all these months.

Our party is so fortunate to have one very good candidate with such broad, enduring support. It's like a win-win situation. The vast majority who're interested in someone else are also carrying an "I also like Biden" card in their pocket.

(How would the media spin 20 Democratic candidates NONE of whom had pulled out ahead? Our unity of principle and proposed policies, and general liking of many for a number of candidates, AND strong leader, is being called disarray!)

So, with February 3 now only 2 months away, I decided it was time to stop waiting for someone else to move up and just go ahead and say I'm really glad that the candidate who's remained out ahead is as excellent in a number of ways as Joe is. I've decided he's a gift to the party that we really need right now.

Go, Joe!