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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:37 PM Jul 2019

Which Dem candidate do you think would have the best chance of winning a traditionally red state?

For example, a state such as Texas, Georgia, or Arizona.

Buttigieg? Biden? O'Rourke? Harris? Bullock? Warren? Sanders? Klobuchar? Gillibrand? Steyer? Someone else?

I think in 2020 we're going to have a shot at converting a red state or two. Which candidate or candidates you think would be the best bet to do that, and why?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Which Dem candidate do you think would have the best chance of winning a traditionally red state? (Original Post) mtnsnake Jul 2019 OP
Beto Jane Austin Jul 2019 #1
None. Voltaire2 Jul 2019 #2
some candidates can make those states into battlegrounds JI7 Jul 2019 #5
AZ and GA are battleground states now. TX is pretty close to being one now if it isn't already. LonePirate Jul 2019 #11
The industrial Midwest and battleground states. Blue_true Jul 2019 #15
Biden by far. Plus he is a known commodity so the GOP and Trump will not be able to redefine him. applegrove Jul 2019 #3
Bullock Biden Beto JI7 Jul 2019 #4
Bingo! 5starlib Jul 2019 #9
i think Warren Harris and other Democrats can win also JI7 Jul 2019 #12
Biden, without question nt COLGATE4 Jul 2019 #6
Biden. Quinnipiac's Texas poll last month showed Biden as the only Democrat beating Trump there: highplainsdem Jul 2019 #7
Biden. He's known and liked. OregonBlue Jul 2019 #8
Biden and maybe Klobuchar nt VarryOn Jul 2019 #10
Biden, definitely. peggysue2 Jul 2019 #13
We should forget trending red states. Blue_true Jul 2019 #14
But down-ballot is important and helping there moonscape Jul 2019 #22
Good point. But our nominee should focus and make wise choices. nt Blue_true Jul 2019 #45
THIS. Good answer. KPN Jul 2019 #23
Another poster mentioned down ballot races in those red states. Blue_true Jul 2019 #46
Biden redstateblues Jul 2019 #16
Biden. customerserviceguy Jul 2019 #17
Biden Mme. Defarge Jul 2019 #18
None. dawg day Jul 2019 #19
You miss the point... brooklynite Jul 2019 #27
There are new voters in the battleground states-- dawg day Jul 2019 #36
If we don't attact other voters...we will lose state governments and the presidency forever Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #41
Okay, but that doesn't require a reluctant allegiance to a candidate at this point dawg day Jul 2019 #42
Bullock (IF he was backed with massive amount of cash to push his campaign in the general) Celerity Jul 2019 #20
Biden The River Jul 2019 #21
Steve Bullock got some consideration but it is Joe Biden by a HUGE margin so far in this thread mtnsnake Jul 2019 #24
Biden, hands down. ucrdem Jul 2019 #25
Bullock... brooklynite Jul 2019 #26
does this mean you will fundraise for him ? JI7 Jul 2019 #28
Something I'm pondering... brooklynite Jul 2019 #32
Biden Skya Rhen Jul 2019 #29
Warren in Ohio, NC, and Florida. Bullock in Montana and North Dakota. blm Jul 2019 #30
The last two are purpleish obamanut2012 Jul 2019 #38
Beto. Amimnoch Jul 2019 #31
Texas would be in play if Biden is the nominee Gothmog Jul 2019 #33
Warren DeminPennswoods Jul 2019 #34
she will be branded a socialist and it will never happen. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #40
Americans like "socialism" when it's explained DeminPennswoods Jul 2019 #44
I have to go with Biden on this question. FloridaBlues Jul 2019 #35
None obamanut2012 Jul 2019 #37
Biden....he and Obama did it. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #39
Beto Indygram Jul 2019 #43
 

Voltaire2

(12,629 posts)
2. None.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:41 PM
Jul 2019

It is the battleground states that matter.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

JI7

(89,182 posts)
5. some candidates can make those states into battlegrounds
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:48 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

LonePirate

(13,386 posts)
11. AZ and GA are battleground states now. TX is pretty close to being one now if it isn't already.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:54 PM
Jul 2019

You might want to update your list of battleground states.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
15. The industrial Midwest and battleground states.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:09 PM
Jul 2019

Hillary was looking at Georgia and Arizona near the end of her campaign. Unfortunately not enough big visits were made to the heart of the industrial Midwest and smaller Florida counties.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

applegrove

(118,022 posts)
3. Biden by far. Plus he is a known commodity so the GOP and Trump will not be able to redefine him.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:41 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JI7

(89,182 posts)
4. Bullock Biden Beto
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:42 PM
Jul 2019

and their advantage would be because they are straight white men .

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

5starlib

(191 posts)
9. Bingo!
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:51 PM
Jul 2019

Bullock, Biden, and Beto are the only sure fire candidates to make red states flippable. As much as I love Liz, I struggle to see her winning 270 EV's.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JI7

(89,182 posts)
12. i think Warren Harris and other Democrats can win also
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:54 PM
Jul 2019

but those 3 i mention are more likely to get support from white people and especially white men who mostly want white men in office . so they could make those other states more competitive.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

COLGATE4

(14,732 posts)
6. Biden, without question nt
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:49 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

highplainsdem

(48,731 posts)
7. Biden. Quinnipiac's Texas poll last month showed Biden as the only Democrat beating Trump there:
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:49 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

OregonBlue

(7,744 posts)
8. Biden. He's known and liked.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:50 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

VarryOn

(2,343 posts)
10. Biden and maybe Klobuchar nt
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:52 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

peggysue2

(10,811 posts)
13. Biden, definitely.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:02 PM
Jul 2019

Which is why the GOP and Trump desperately want someone else to run against.

Others?

Perhaps Bullock. I think we need to hear more from him to make that call but as a Democratic Gov from a Red State he has creds. Klobucher may also have some clout in the Midwest. I'd like to say Beto as well but his recent donation haul was disappointing. He still has time to pull it together but the clock is ticking. His one advantage is qualifying or nearly qualifying for the September round of debates. But he'll need money to stay in the game because even the primaries are insanely expensive.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
14. We should forget trending red states.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:06 PM
Jul 2019

Our focus should be the industrial Midwest and states that have shown themselves to be purple states.

I really don't care if Texas, Georgia or Arizona look like one may drop into our column. Our nominee should not pull a single resource from the places I mentioned earlier to chase the red plum.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

moonscape

(4,664 posts)
22. But down-ballot is important and helping there
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:41 PM
Jul 2019

is important.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
45. Good point. But our nominee should focus and make wise choices. nt
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 05:05 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

KPN

(15,587 posts)
23. THIS. Good answer.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 01:15 AM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
46. Another poster mentioned down ballot races in those red states.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 05:12 PM
Jul 2019

We do have big down ballot races in all of them.

Our nominee needs to be very active, no sizeable periods off the campaign trail. I like that Joe Biden said that if Trump call him old in a debate, he would immediately challenge Trump to a push-up contest on the spot. ANY candidate that we end up nominating should do the same. If Trump talks about how healthy and hale he is, challenge his ass to a push-up or sit-up contest on the spot, then ridicule him if he declines (which he will). Also, have a mental agility test that Trump would be challenged to take, and chide him for not making his full medical records public.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
17. Biden.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:15 PM
Jul 2019

I really think that anyone else would find it tough. But, we don't need to win any red states, all we need to do is get back the states that Barack Obama won, which have been generally blue for the last few decades.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
19. None.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:33 PM
Jul 2019

We can twist ourselves like a pretzel trying to attract red-staters who vote against their own interests and the interest of the country and are self-destructive.
Or we could focus on the new voters and young voters and unenthusiastic voters and overwhelm the red-state nihilists.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

brooklynite

(93,878 posts)
27. You miss the point...
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:14 AM
Jul 2019

Those "new voters and young voters and unenthusiastic voters" have to be in either battleground or Red States to matter. Racking up more votes in CA, WA, MD, NJ, etc. is wasted effort.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
36. There are new voters in the battleground states--
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 12:25 PM
Jul 2019

and focusing on chasing the chimerical "white working class male red-state voter" distracts from that effort.
I didn't say, "Build up the count in CA" particularly. That will happen anyway. But the Obama-voting states that inexplicably went for Trump? More important than Missouri or even Georgia-- and just get the Jill Stein types and the new college students and the "my vote doesn't count" voters, and the Dems win Wisconsin and Mich and Penn.

That is, of course, absent cheating and interference.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
41. If we don't attact other voters...we will lose state governments and the presidency forever
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 02:12 PM
Jul 2019

and the Senate as well. Look at the map...the Senate makes me want to weep. And we have not path to the presidency unless we rebuild the blue wall and win in MI, PA and WI. We are in a desperate situation. We may have popular support and I believe we do...but our elections have an electoral college and individual district method (states can be gerrymandered The GOP controls the majority of the states. We won't win in 20 or beyond if we don't get the rust belt back. And there are more states with the Senate firmly in the control of the Republicans than Democrats.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
42. Okay, but that doesn't require a reluctant allegiance to a candidate at this point
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 03:40 PM
Jul 2019

If the OP was really "for" Biden, then of course he/she should fight hard. But why at this point be "for" someone other than the ones you think are best?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Celerity

(42,673 posts)
20. Bullock (IF he was backed with massive amount of cash to push his campaign in the general)
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:34 PM
Jul 2019

He is literally the ONLY one to win (and multiple times at that) a statewide position in a ruby red state.

He has that Western-style charisma (dare I say almost a little swagger, but still humble) that would play very very well in Texas.

Biden is the only other one who would come close,

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
24. Steve Bullock got some consideration but it is Joe Biden by a HUGE margin so far in this thread
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:02 AM
Jul 2019

Last edited Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:34 AM - Edit history (1)

It will be interesting to see how Bullock does when he's finally allowed into the debates, since he's the only Democratic candidate to not only be elected, but to be re-elected to a red state in 2016.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
25. Biden, hands down.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:08 AM
Jul 2019

Biden leads in every single RCP poll he's been in, national and state, except one: an early April Emerson poll of MA showing Bernie at 26% and Biden at 23%. That's it. And in a June Boston Globe poll Joe leads Bernie 22 to 6:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/ma/massachusetts_democratic_presidential_primary-6786.html

Biden leads in every single poll in CA, NH, SC, TX, Nevada, and Iowa. I think that's a good indicator of strong support!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

brooklynite

(93,878 posts)
26. Bullock...
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:12 AM
Jul 2019

Won two terms in Montana, including the same year Trump won.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JI7

(89,182 posts)
28. does this mean you will fundraise for him ?
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:14 AM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

brooklynite

(93,878 posts)
32. Something I'm pondering...
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:19 AM
Jul 2019

Bullock was the first candidate I met with. I'm impressed with his record, but ended up going with Hickenlooper because he came across as more approachable to voters. At this point, I'm going to see if he makes the debates (we'll know today) and how he does.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

blm

(112,920 posts)
30. Warren in Ohio, NC, and Florida. Bullock in Montana and North Dakota.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:16 AM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
38. The last two are purpleish
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 12:49 PM
Jul 2019

FL will be full-blown purple-blue when some of these "Greatest Gen" and Boomers die off.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Amimnoch

(4,558 posts)
31. Beto.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:18 AM
Jul 2019

Beto, especially when pared with Hegar's Senate bit would put Texas into play.

I do think Biden has the best chance of pulling in the required traditional "swing" states of all the candidates though.

Buttigieg could put Indiana into the battleground territory, but with 11 EC votes, he'd have to pull in better polling in at least 2 other battleground states.

I haven't seen anything to make me think any of the other candidates currently in the running will turn any traditionally "red" states into battlegrounds though.

Abrams, had she run, could have put Georgia into the battleground category.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
33. Texas would be in play if Biden is the nominee
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:27 AM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
34. Warren
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 09:36 AM
Jul 2019

She taps into the same economic populism that Trump did/does except she knows what she's talking about and has thoughtful plans on how to address inequality. Put another way, she can recapture the Obama-Obama-Trump voter.

It's anecdotal, but I watched her townhall on MSNBC from Ft Wayne, iirc, IN. Chris Hayes had some voters on stage with Warren. One woman had voted for Obama, then Trump. When she asked Warren a question and got Warren's answer, you could see her just beam. She looked like she had been converted on the spot.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
40. she will be branded a socialist and it will never happen.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 02:06 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
44. Americans like "socialism" when it's explained
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 03:51 PM
Jul 2019

to them. And Warren is very, very good at that.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

FloridaBlues

(3,993 posts)
35. I have to go with Biden on this question.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 10:53 AM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
39. Biden....he and Obama did it.
Tue Jul 16, 2019, 02:05 PM
Jul 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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