1. Can they decisively defeat Trump (or the R substituted should an 'opening' arise)?
2. DO they have the qualifications, experience, knowledge of government interworkings, and determination to rapidly and effectively turn around as much damaging Trump policies as possible AND restore Federal agencies to actual WORKING entities?
3. Will they rapidly work to restore international credibility and respect, strengthening our critical alliances and the principals upon which our democracy was created?


Of course, there are a lot of policies I consider paramount. But everything flows from the above.

and respect, who is progressive, who is popular with most people, is likable and is a person of color.

Who is someone like that?

OH Kamala Harris of course!

I want a Prez candidate strong enuf to help in some close Senate races.

With all the current actions of the rtump administration, my mind can t even comprehend or entertain thoughts of what's down the line in almost two years. We've begun speculating way too early. All I can be sure of is all declared and potential candidates would be superior to what we have.

I believe that Andrew Yang has the best ones as explained on his website. My second choice is Bernie Sanders as he is and for decades was carrying the argument of progressive ideas.

I can get behind almost all of the declared and undeclared candidates. There's a few with whom I'm not familiar. But most of them are pushing positions and initiatives I can get behind. I may not agree 100% with their positions, and some may not support every position I support. But for the most part they're in my ballpark.

But I have to see how well they articulate their positions, whether they can sell it to the American people, if they're inspirational and passionate. Do they get get buried in the weeds and lose their point. Are they forceful without being confrontational. I want a winner. There are at least 6 I can willingly get behind if they show me they have the stuff to be a fighter, a champion, a communicator. Maybe the others I don't know as well will surprise me and become my front runner.

Bernie (78 in September) Joe Biden (77 in November). As I senior, I think they're both too old. We need younger but experienced candidates.

That's why I'm undecided.

who can defeat T. If Elmer Fudd runs as a Dem and can defeat T, I will vote for him. Can't be any worse.

1) Does the candidate share my political values?
2) Am I convinced the candidate would make a very fine president?
3) Are they the best match to defeat Donald Trump in the Electoral College?

but reserve to make my decision until the NY primary more than a year away.

I'm going to listen and not commit to any of the candidates until I actually have to vote.

have more come out to run as time goes on. Too early to decide. And I feel like I shouldn't decide on a candidate either for I want to give all candidates an equal chance/equal footing before I decide. It's only fair to all of the candidates.

My state's primary is late in the game after most will have dropped or become too far behind to win

Electability and positions are important, someone who can bring democrats together and stand firm when confronting the republicans both during and after the election but most important and hardest to decide will be an overall feeling that I can trust our nominee to put the country back on course. I lean towards Biden right now but I am also excited about Harris I also know it is way too soon, for me anyways, to make any kind of decision.

And that is all about how individual candidates take on the Trumpster, the foul winds that'll blow until Election Day. That's why I'm waiting; I want to see these people in the head-to-head battle. Show me how much juice you really have!

Position-wise, all our candidates are 1000% better than anything the Trumpster and Republicans are offering which is a continued slide into fascism disguised under the 'populist' banner. We also need someone who can get things done, knows how the levers of power work and can begin to heal and repair the damage Trump has leveled on the country, domestically and abroad. That will mean gaining seats in the Senate and holding our majority in the House.

This is not a time for purity politics. Too much work to be done. Too much of an existential threat. For everyone.

Along with policy positions that I can agree with.

And, that I believe can build a winning coalition that inspires people to run locally, all up and down the ticket.

Just no way to select announced candidate that doesn't make the list.

I am not undecided. Beto is my first choice and Klobuchar is second. I'll switch to Beto here if he officially enters the race.

There is a thread today in General Discussion regarding Trump's surge among Hispanic voters. That should not be a surprise to anyone. I have mentioned many times in recent months that Hispanics have a long history of extreme loyalty to the incumbent, far beyond the prior cycle and far beyond logic based on issues.

Our nominee needs to be particularly strong among Hispanics. If we lose ground there, we cannot make it up anywhere else. I have not studied which candidates have demonstrated strength among Hispanics. But I cannot imagine anyone is better suited than Beto, given the heritage and name and ability to speak Spanish.

Here in Miami I have seen the problem first hand when our candidates cannot speak Spanish and do not prioritize Spanish language media. My neighbors are Cuban and they told me that Rick Scott was all over Spanish television last year, while Bill Nelson was almost non-existent. Rick Scott is scum but he is resourceful scum. While governor he learned how to speak just enough Spanish to communicate during press conferences and while cutting commercials. Considering his winning margin, it was probably the difference. Scott received 45% of the Hispanic vote against Nelson. He lost the block just 54-45. Four years earlier against Charlie Crist, Scott lost the Hispanic vote 58-38.

Republicans have been outmaneuvering Democrats in Florida. We can't allow it to happen nationally, by making poor assumptions regarding the Hispanic vote in 2020.

1) Presence. - Charisma, speaking ability, ability to think on his/her feet.

2) Character

3) Policy - honestly, a distant third in most cases. With a few exceptions, the policy position differences between our candidates are minor enough that it doesn't matter to me. IN the end, actual policy proposals will depend more on the political environment of the moment.

... yes, I will say it....independents and disaffected former repub voters.... and recognize that the job at hand the next few yrs is to repair all the damage that has been done Not sure who this person is, or how I will judge it.

Maybe Im saying the same thing as OP - electability.

Im fine if this person is social democrat, democratic socialist, or what have you..... BUT.... must be willing and able to put restoration of democracy front and center for now. Another way of putting it is.... articulate and advocate for things like he Green New Deal, but this should be done firmly within the context of defending the OLD ONE.

Just a thought - in a way WE have become the conservatives, in the truest sense of the word, while the Repubs/Cult45 are the radicals, hell bent on destroying 100 yrs of progressive policies and programs that have served us well for 100 yrs. I'm not sure the old right-left dichotomy really applies anymore.

We have to win the general election

Even the few I don't especially like would get my support if it looks like they are best suited to take him down.

Or tacitly encourage supporters to do so

Preferably a woman, but I'm open

Well thought out policies, not just slogans

Electability, of course. We have to defeat Trump or Pence.

Be a real Democrat, not a temporary one.

Our Primary is June 2 - doesn't make any sense to get into a candidate before then.

Then Joe jumps to 50%

Biden/Harris was my preference since late summer I think. I'm leaning Harris, because Joe is taking a while to announce, and Kamala just seems armored up and ready to go.

That might change back to Biden/Harris if Joe takes up the call and becomes what he is.

"Progressives" need to realize that candidates like Barack Obama, Diane Feinstein, and Hillary Clinton ARE progressive.

Bernie is a leftist, but I'd take Sherrod Brown and AOC over him.

I wish Jerry Brown had another 10 years in him politically. He's a pragmatic leftist that knows numbers and dollars.

But until "Progressives" get smarter politically, I'm for the "been there, done that" wing of the Democratic Party.

Which includes speaking well and charisma. They have to be able to think and speak on their feet because the gop will be flinging crap faster than a carload of monkeys

Policy matters but we have to win the presidency and need enough momentum to take the senate or policy differences won’t matter.

I am really undecided, but i take the tag as being who i would vote for if the primary were tomorrow. I might change it multiple times. Sorry if that messes with poll results.

...no half-way solutions, no starting at the middle. Go for the gold and show you’re willing to push hard for it. We may end up with half-way but that’s better than starting there and ending up with next to nothing.

Side note: what is electability to you? I see a lot of people use that word but I have no idea what it means. How do you determine who’s most electable? Is it the same criteria you used last time?

How to determine that, I don't know. It's tough. There are polls, but they don't mean too much before the actual campaign starts with all the smears. Charisma and being "presidential" matter there. Appealing to different constituencies matters. Not having vulnerabilities/scandals/skeletons matters.

There's no easy way. But still, we need to decide, based on imperfect information. And when I decide, it will be the person who I think is most likely to defeat Trump.

Senator Warren has released her tax returns

Link to tweet

And I think there is a strong correlation between the two; strong beliefs contribute to a strong campaign. I think chasing after "electability" alone can result in a weak campaigner and hence the danger of losing, because often we mistake "electability" for thin broad based appeal that melts in the heat of conflict. I want someone with strong progressive values who excels at making the case for strong progressive policies. I want someone who really inspires voters that they can make a difference in their lives. And I want someone who shows they can play the political game well enough to garner the support needed to win.

Right now my top four potential candidates in no particular order are Brown, Harris, Sanders, and Warren, but I am very open and could easily go with someone else.

If I wanted a candidate I agree with 100 percent, I'd vote for myself.

But let's face it, most policies stated by candidates are more aspirational goals than specific plans for achieving them. And even fewer address how they plan to enact policies when 60 votes are needed in the Senate.

So, instead, I'm looking for:

1. Someone who can take on Trump without trying to out-Trump Trump, preferably with dignity, class, and especially humor. (For ex.: like JFK, Lincoln, and Rep. Ted Lieu)

2. Someone who knows how to work the levers of Government to take on Mitch McConnell and get stuff done. (For ex.: like LBJ and Pelosi)

3. Someone with that undefinable "IT" factor that can inspire and empower a nation to be its best version of itself. (For ex.: Obama, obviously, as well as Howard "You have the power!" Dean [Yes, I'm a Deaniac still.])

4. Someone who speaks the truth --- even unpopular or inconvenient truths --- rather than spin or obfuscation. I may disagree with him/her, but I respect a candidate who is honest and candid rather than a panderer. (A couple current candidates show signs of meeting this criterion.)

5. Someone who offers a storehouse of experience, knowledge, and wisdom to handle the minutiae of office, as well as crises with global consequences. Basically, someone brainy enough to know at least as much about a subject as does the reporter asking him/her about it. (For ex.: like either Bill or Hillary Clinton or, ideally, Pres. Josiah Bartlett)

All that said, as a Marylander, I don't vote in the primary until the Dem candidate is all but finalized. So, if I do settle on a candidate that meets my criteria, I'll be voting early with my wallet.

That would be Tulsi Gabbard--- just not a fan of her foreign policy stances.

I'm going to wait until there's a few debates between them. Then a few candidates will emerge as leaders of the pack.

Also I vote in NJ. We're one of the last states to vote.