Reply #79: Feingold tested the waters for 2008 - and found them frigid [View All]

[karynnj]

If he could not generate sufficient interest in the pre-primary of 2008 - when the party knew that the winner of the nomination was very likely the winner of the Presidency, I don't think there is a chance in any year that is less obviously a Democratic win.

With the exception of John Kerry, President Obama is the left most Democratic nominee three decades. If you consider this graphically - looking at the number of Democratic primary voters across the political spectrum, Obama's position near the center, but in the left half means that even if you ignore his personal popularity, there are not enough voters who would be closer ideologically to your hypothetical progressive liberal.