If I were any of the primary candidates other than Biden or Sanders,

[MineralMan]

I think I'd take a hard position against Trump right now. I'd go after him mercilessly at every campaign stop, point out all the ways he has failed the United States, and never let up.

It's going to be hard to stand out in this crowded field, and most of the candidates are pretty much being silent on Trump, except in a general disapproving way.

Want to stand out? Attack Trump. That would be my advice for the second tier of candidates.

[theboss]

1. In what way though?

I don't know if just going after him in a general way works.

If you are going to do this, I think it needs to be on something specific and something that may appeal to a specific voting group. Maybe just character or temperament. I mean, he'll give you something nearly every day on Twitter to riff on.

[marylandblue]

2. They need to make a positive case for themselves, it can't just be about attacking Trump.

Giving Trump negative attention just makes him stronger. He thrives on that.

[MineralMan]

3. I disagree, in the case of the pack of candidates.

Being an attack dog against Trump will get attention. Use specific attacks against specific things. Do something different from what the other lesser candidates are doing. Capture the part of the electorate that wants to hear those things and make them your own. Votes matter. Percentages matter if you're not leading the pack.

It's not how you win the nomination, of course, but that will not be the goal. Making yourself significantly popular is the route to the VP nomination. That's what many of the other current candidates are hoping for, anyhow.

[Renew Deal]

4. Then the person gets labeled an attack dog and is not considered serious.

Everyone knows they oppose Trump. They are going to stand out with their policies, articulation of the justification of their candidacy, and ability to expand their base.

[MineralMan]

5. So, you think there is a fair chance for any but a couple of

current candidates to win the nomination? I don't. Once Biden jumps in, it's going to be a Biden vs. Sanders choice for the top of the ticket. The rest are really non-starters, I think, realistically. Many of the current candidates knew that going in, and are looking to get noticed, either for VP or to build cred for the future or for another office down the road.

The VP nomination is going to be a real prize for someone in 2020. There's a strong chance that either Biden or Sanders would serve just a single term, due to age. Who gets picked for the VP nomination is really going to matter, and that's the brass ring many of those candidates are eyeing.

The eventual nominee for President is going to be looking at primary performance in key states when it comes time to pick a VP choice. That's going to be measured by votes in those states. The challenge right now, for those who aren't aiming for the presidential nomination is to score points from voters in the primaries.

It has nothing to do, really, with a run for the presidential nomination for most of those currently running. That's not going to happen for them. It's something else that keeps them in the race. Realpolitik is real.

[theboss]

6. I think it's a four or five person race ultimately.

Biden and Sanders will clearly be there. I think Beto and Harris will last a long time too. The race is really to be that fifth person and hope to either be VP or somehow thread the needle between the other four.

I think you are right that that this person needs to differentiate themselves. I'm not sure if attacking Trump is solely the answer though, because I can't imagine there be a lack of that.

[ZeroSomeBrains]

7. I think you are on to something

It's too early to say that Biden and Sanders are running away with anything yet so it would be a good idea to talk about what those candidates think the current occupant of the White House is doing wrong. If they aren't in the Senate they can talk about what impeachment charges they think he is guilty of. You could also talk about whether there needs to be a law outlawing a President making money off his businesses. There's a lot of furtile ground.

[brooklynite]

8. Democratic voters who don't frequent political blogs don't care about Trump...

...they care about health care, jobs, education costs, civil rights, etc.

[MineralMan]

9. I'm not sure you're right about that.

Besides, I'm not talking about the front-runners. I'm talking about the wannabe VPs. Taking on Trump would be a good look for them, and I hope at least one goes that way.

[brooklynite]

11. IN 2018, I spoke to about 30 House and Senate candidates...

They all said that voters wanted to focus economic issues rather than on Trump, Russia, etc.

[Tipperary]

10. I am not so sure about that. I think Buttigieg's tweet today regarding rump's behavior is perfect.

The orange idiot thrives on negative attention.