Biden in 2020? Allies Say He Sees Himself as Democrats’ Best Hope

[Albion]

I noted back then that the trend in the last few weeks was Trump swiftly closing the gap.

You may have, but the basic impression that the media constantly dished out was exactly what Hillary herself was led to believe--that the election was safely hers.

Otherwise, she would have made a visit to Wisconsin and campaigned right up until Election Day rather than coast.

And by the way, the several polls that showed Trump with a chance of victory (many more did not), were roundly ridiculed in the media for their published findings. The LA Times poll, for example.

 

[dgiharris]

However, it is also true that predictions of the race being "a sure thing" for one of the candidates causes supporters of the other one to stay home in the belief that it is hopeless and, therefore, not worth their time and effort to vote.

In other words, if Hillary might have lost 5% because of the pollsters, Trump might have lost 5% of his supporters who thought he had no chance--because of those same polls.

And by the way, the several polls that showed Trump with a chance of victory (many more did not), were roundly ridiculed in the media for their published findings. The LA Times poll, for example.

I don't think it is symmetric, similarly, hatred of your opponent brings people to the polls a lot more than liking your candidate (which is kinda weird).

Or put another way, Trump benefited more by the inaccurate poll reporting than Hillary did. It was the edge he needed in a race that was statistically within the margin of error.

To be fair though, I have no data backing up my claims. I do have experience in surveys and polling though (for whatever that is worth)...

 

[Albion]

Or put another way, Trump benefited more by the inaccurate poll reporting than Hillary did. It was the edge he needed in a race that was statistically within the margin of error.

To be fair though, I have no data backing up my claims. I do have experience in surveys and polling though (for whatever that is worth)...

While hatred can motivate, its true, I don't think it can be said that Trump benefitted by from being described by most pollsters throughout the campaign as a certain loser. And with most polls, the race was not within the margin of error most of the time.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

I think what they will do is run some young socialist. The far left is taking over the Democrats.

 

[EpiscipalMe]

I think what they will do is run some young socialist. The far left is taking over the Democrats.

I doubt that will happen.

However, I guess it’s only fair - the Republicans ran a white nationalist last time. The far right has taken over the Republicans.

 

[super animator]

I think what they will do is run some young socialist.

And why do you think that?

 

[mark kennedy]

Bidden is obviously the best hope for Democrats but I just don't know if he is up to it. I've seen him wince a couple of times when asked, I guess he will make up his mind when his book tour is done. It crushed me when he wasn't the candidate in 2016 but he had just lost his son. There's plenty of time right now, I just don't see any close second if he declines.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

And why do you think that?

Because they are getting lots of attention right now. I could be wrong. But I think they will at least tie one to a main candidate.

 

[Albion]

I think what they will do is run some young socialist. The far left is taking over the Democrats.

That appears to be where all the action and excitement is at the moment. Biden would profit from seeming to be the mature, more conventional democrat vs. the field of these other candidates, but all the candidates and would-be candidates at present are trying to outdo each other with more and more radical proposals, so that suggests that the "young socialist" trend is strong.

 

[dgiharris]

...but all the candidates and would-be candidates at present are trying to outdo each other with more and more radical proposals, so that suggests that the "young socialist" trend is strong.

There are a couple of things that the "Socialists" are right about and if we don't solve these problems now, we as a nation are well and truly screwed.

The cost of college is not only too high, it is unsustainable. You can't have the majority of your workforce starting out with 10 to 20 years of debt when the workforce of other countries aren't shackled with that same level of debt.

You can call it socialism, you can call it whatever you like, but the bottom line is, we've got to do something about the cost of college in this country and the cost of medical care. This isn't about politics it is about cold hard math. The math doesn't care what side of the political isle you are on, and right now, the math is screaming at us that we are about to suffer a huge collapse.

It's like we are driving down the highway at 85mph oblivious to the smoke pouring out of the hood and the knocking and scraping sounds coming from the engine...

 

[Albion]

What I think of as Socialism is...Socialism. I am not of the opinion that every problem in society can only be solved by taking it on in the way that Socialists advocate and with the programs that they prefer. A Socialist will, of course, talk as though whatever their approach happens to be, its the only one worth considering.

 

[super animator]

What I think of as Socialism is...Socialism.

I am not convince that you know what socialism even is to begin with.

 

[Albion]

Well, my graduate work in Political Science must have been worth nothing in that case. What are your credentials?

 

[bhsmte]

Lets see what happens in the next year or so, which can be an eternity in politics.