Here on DU, we look at this primary season somewhat differently

[MineralMan]

than the typical Democratic voter does. And that difference is really, really important. DUers are policy wonks. DUers trend farther left than the majority of Democrats.

If you're having trouble understanding why Joe Biden still has a double-digit polling lead over the closest competitors in the primary race, keep that difference in mind.

It is not DUers who will end up electing the President in November of 2020. Truly it is not.

[beachbum bob]

1. we all know this to be true....what we see here is an idealogy that can manifest itself again

into taking positions that would lead to a 2nd trump term....


we can all blow the smoke at each other but come Nov 2020, the choice will be just as simple as it was in Nov 2016....do we allow more evil to flourish because we don;t have OUR candidate? Or do what is right for our future and our country.


The damage done in 2016 may take a generation to overcome, if repeated in 2020, I am afraid there will be no recovery for us.

[MineralMan]

3. You're right. We all need to get on board in 2020.

We get that chance. If we fail to do that, we may not ever get another chance.

[underpants]

2. Tell you the truth I probably won't watch.

Lots going on with the pending move. I’ve been turning on baseball as background noise.

Seems to me it’s too crowded. I have a good idea who will stay in for the long haul and who the race will come down to. I’ll just wait and see. I AM planning on starting a thread tonight to hopefully cut down in the one line threads clogging everything up. Also it will give me a good recap of what happens.

[Indygram]

4. I'm a typical moderate Independent voter in a battleground state

And Biden is nowhere near my first choice. I don't think he has the ability to appeal to both people like myself and progressives at the same time and if he is the nominee I think Trump will win re-election. I believe it is going to take a massive grassroots movement and a candidate who works hard, tirelessly and gives it their all. Biden has never been that kind of campaigner. I also think he has way too much baggage that can and will be used to distract. Biden handles attacks in a defensive way and it becomes an issue for days and days. I just don't think he is a good match for going against a narcissist because Trump will use that defensiveness against him.

I am 100% convinced that Beto is the best choice. He's already faced maximum scrutiny a few months ago and proved his ability to take it and let it roll off his back and keep working without allowing distractions.

[TheFarseer]

5. We have over 6 months to make the case

For our own candidate. Give up now and support the guy with the most name recognition? No deal.

[pattyloutwo]

6. Yes

I agree, but also in some years the “safe” choice is less inspiring and doesn’t bring people to the polls. Obama (and unfortunately Trump) brought people to the polls. I think the time might be right for Warren to inspire people to vote.

[bluewater]

7. Democratic Underground just pays attention earlier.

It's not that DU-ers are smarter, or wonkier, we just tend to pay closer attention earlier than the general public.

That is why the primary preference poll on DU shows such different results.
More people are with holding judgement, and those that have decided don't mirror the early polls.

As for your assertion that DU is left of center than most Democrats, the 2016 primary results strongly contradict that.

I remember that Hillary Clinton had the most support, and Bernie Sanders had a considerable but smaller following; But Clinton was the clear favorite on Democratic Underground.

In fact, the actual primary results showed "real world" Democrats being more left of center than DU-ers were
Clinton: 2205
Sanders: 1894

So, where is the proof that DU is more left of center than the majority of Democrats?

[Demit]

10. I think that's absolutely right, that DU just pays attention earlier.

There's a looong way to go before the primary season is played out. Lots to happen that hasn't happened yet.

[Demsrule86]

11. Hillary was not the clear favorite...not at all

[marylandblue]

8. I don't have trouble understanding why Biden is ahead at the moment.

I have more trouble understanding why a bunch of supposed left-leaning wonks are so absolutely certain that his present lead will hold regardless of what he or anyone else say or does. I

I wonder how many of the DUers so certain about Biden were certain in June 2015 that Trump would not win. After that experience, I learned to take early polls and forecasts with a big grain of salt.

[mtnsnake]

9. I think the biggest difference

is that here on DU almost everyone is 10x more aware of the intricacies of all the candidates, not just the top 3 or 4, than the typical Democratic voters are. That's why I think Biden is out to such a big lead across the country...because the typical Democratic voters are really only aware of the top handful of candidates that are highlighted in the polls and in the media. It's for the same reason why I think Biden's previous lead on DU was so much smaller than the general public polls. DU'ers are more into it, more aware of all the candidates, not just the front runners in the polls, and much more fussy about who they choose. Thus Elizabeth Warren in a dead heat with Biden here on DU, at least for now.

I do agree with you about your analysis from the angle you're looking at it, though.

[Honeycombe8]

12. True, the majority of Democrats in the country are moderates.

There are some here on DU. I might be one. But generally, DUers are progressives, I think.