My Dilemma

[ChoppinBroccoli]

I'm supposed to vote in 2 weeks, and for the first time in my voting life, I have no idea who to back in the Democratic Primaries. I've always known exactly who I wanted to back early, from the time I happily threw all my support behind Bill Clinton in 1992. But this year, I have a dilemma. I love Bernie, Biden, Pete (well, forget Pete as of tonight), and Elizabeth Warren, but I'm not sure they can win. I think Bloomberg can win, but I'm not sure I like him. I'm willing to be flexible on "philosophical purity" because getting Trump out of office is the top priority. However, it's not the ONLY priority. I have no idea how to choose in this scenario.

Obviously I will wholeheartedly support whoever ends up winning the nomination, but as far as who I'll cast my vote for in 2 weeks, I still have no idea. It seems like I fall in love with a different candidate with each passing day.

I'm starting to think that I may have to go with Biden, as he represents the perfect compromise. I do like him, and I think he can win, but I worry about his age. I also think he's charismatic enough to inspire people and tough enough to stand toe-to-toe and slug it out with Trump. But again, are people going to flock to the polls to elect a 78-year-old? The current polls seem to indicate yes.

For all the people who have been in my shoes and eventually decided on a candidate, how did you do it? I'm really struggling to choose right now.

[rzemanfl]

1. I was Biden, Pete, Bloomberg briefly, then back to Pete, then Biden again.

I do not love Bernie, I find him divisive and abrasive, so Biden is an easy choice for me. Bloomberg would get the votes of disaffected Republicans, but I think Joe can do that too. I believe Joe will select an excellent VP candidate and will not seek a second term. I wish he was younger (and I was too). Winning is everything. Joe can win. I am comfortable with my decision and will mail my ballot tomorrow.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

5. I Was A Hardcore "Bernie Bro" In 2016, But Still Voted For Hillary

I found that my intense love of Bernie from 2016 dropped off a cliff over the following 4 years. I still like him, but not like I did in 2016. And my biggest reason is because I truly don't think he can win. I heard back then that the opposition research on him was "devastating," and I can believe that.

At this point, I really think the only 2 candidates who can win are Biden and Bloomberg. Biden's going to need a young, vibrant running mate, preferably experienced so we don't have a repeat of McCain-Palin. People generally don't like voting for older candidates for fear that they might die in office, but if you give them an inexperienced and/or batshit crazy running mate, they'll run for the hills. I don't know who he could choose, but relative youth and experience/competence will be paramount. A woman and/or person of color might strengthen his showing too. I wonder if Kamala Harris might be the way to go. Cory Booker could be a strong possibility.

[TwilightZone]

6. I think Harris is probably the leading candidate.

I think they would be more overt about it if Biden was still the front-runner and looked like he was headed toward the nomination.

Just a guess, though. Abrams is also frequently mentioned as a possibility.

[TwilightZone]

2. I've been undecided by choice.

It's been so much easier not getting emotionally invested in a candidate, though this is the first time I've not had a clear favorite in probably decades. From the beginning, I planned to wait until just before my primary and then make a decision.

My primary is this week. I'm still not 100%, but close, and I think I'm leaning toward making a tactical choice and voting for Biden, though I might have leaned Warren or Pete (until he dropped out) otherwise. My primary goal is getting rid of Trump, and I'm not convinced Sanders can do that, and Biden's the only one who really has any shot at stopping Sanders.

As for his age, yeah, I suppose it's an issue, but it's so far down my list of things to worry about that it just doesn't factor in.

[BigmanPigman]

3. I heard on the news tonight that you are not alone

and tons of people have not voted early this year compared to the past. I think a lot are waiting until their state primary is closer to their actual primary date to see who is still remaining since let's face, all the Dems that were running are pretty damn good and have a lot to offer. Also people are waiting to hear endorsements from those who are dropping out, etc. This year is not the year to vote based on your Dem ideals and policies as much as it is to stop tRump. That is the overall goal...beat the fucking moron and you can vote for your ideal candidate in the next election, if we have a country left to have another election. The stakes are that high.

[RandySF]

4. The realistic choice is Biden or Sanders

Bloomberg and Warren are fading and one may even drop out not long after Tuesday.

[question everything]

7. Sanders may be the nominee but it will cost us the White House, the House and forget about

flipping the Senate.

Most Americans will not vote for anyone with the descriptive socialist on his name and it will affect the down ballots.

Does anyone even know whether, if Sanders is the nominee whether he will still run as an Independent?

I wish that the DNC never allowed him to run as an independent. Not in 2016 and not this year.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

8. Totally get it. I had my California ballot for weeks and only voted today

I had a political calculus I was working through based on how S. Carolina turned out. If Joe won and was viable, I would vote for him. If Sanders won and others looked ready to take him on, I was going to vote for someone else (assuming Biden dropped out).

I say take your time before voting.

[NYMinute]

9. Be safe. Go with Biden. You can't go wrong.

[Liberty Belle]

10. If a candidate lives long enough to beat Trump and keels over a day later, that's still a winner.

A Dem VP, presumably younger, will carry on the policies and likely be able to win reelection.

The key is to BEAT TRUMP. If Bernie or Biden can do that, it's a bonus if they prove to have longevity to, but if they don't, they've still done America a great service. Age is also an issue for Bloomberg and to a lesser degree, WArren.

Since they are all old, as is Trump, age is basically off the table as an issue at this point.

[Awsi Dooger]

11. You have the correct instincts regarding Bloomberg and Biden

Bloomberg has a much greater likelihood of defeating Trump than Biden would have. Unfortunately the results and impressions of the past 10 days or so shifted the Sanders alternative from a tefloned multi billionaire to a guy who has already sought the nomination twice and who has lost more than a step.

I like Joe Biden but I'm not getting rid of the Bob Dole comparison. I am completely immune to day to day irrelevancies as opposed to the big picture. If we nominate Biden then we're in another race very similar to 2016. It would come down to Trump's approval rating and whether or not Biden could remain sharp throughout the fall and especially in the debates. I really worry about those moments when he loses memory and suddenly appears old. That would not have been a concern with Biden 4 or 8 years ago. Now it is a very real variable.

Biden would stem the socialist bombardment. We wouldn't get rejected based on ideology alone. It would mostly come down to the 45-64 age bracket and whether Biden could pull some support from Trump. Biden won't fare nearly as well with under 45 as Sanders. Biden would fare significantly better than Sanders with the 65+ crowd. That is a scared segment of the electorate and steadily moving our way due to the Silent Generation dying out. No demographic has changed as much from 2014 through 2018 than 65+. It was 57-41 red in 2014 then 52-45 red in 2016 then only 50-48 red in 2018. That is partially shifting membership in that group as Baby Boomers become more prominent instead of Silent Generation -- which was politically imprinted as Republican-leaning all their lives while Baby Boomers are considerably more balanced -- and partially the changed persuasion aspects of a heavy red midterm in 2014 compared to heavy blue midterm in 2018.

I'm sure we're on the verge of some idiotic stories proclaiming that senior citizens are shifting away from Republicans. No, the shift is who comprises those senior citizens. This stuff is predictable decades on advance. Once the young of today are senior citizens it will be a blue demographic because they were imprinted blue.

Biden would face the Hunter stuff and primarily he would face the extraordinary obstacle of evicting an incumbent. Overall I'd prefer a more charismatic nominee...but not one who is a socialist.

In a year that we lacked anything close to an ideal nominee I thought it was an incredible gift that Michael Bloomberg surfaced. Then we threw it away due to obsession over stuff that wouldn't matter in November in the slightest. I give credit to the OP for maintaining clarity regarding what Bloomberg's chances would have been. Others here dependably take that day to day irrelevant elevator up or down.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

12. Update: I'm Stepping Off The Ledge

I'm not undecided anymore. I'm going for Biden. I'm not a rabid supporter yet, but I have a feeling I'll get there. Back in 2004, I fell in love with Howard Dean, and it took me a while to warm up to Kerry after Howard dropping out broke my heart, but I eventually got there. And I'll get there for Biden too.