I read Markos diary "Announcing Civiqs: the coolest thing I've helped build since Daily Kos" with interest, and like some kossacks, I signed up to participate in polls.
The sign up process was easy — I answered a few basic demographic questions, provided an email address, and I was registered.
This afternoon I received my first poll. My experience was much more positive than any telephone poll I’ve taken. I was already online. All I had to do was click on a tab in the email. The poll took me 20 seconds to complete. There was no getting interrupted while at work, while driving, while in a restaurant, etc. Lot easier to sit at a computer where I am already at than to go answer the phone.
The questions were about the 2020 Democratic primary. The first questions were if I had a favorable or unfavorable view (or was unsure) of potential Democratic candidates. The final question was who I was most likely to support in 2020.
I answered Joe Biden. Why? I just feel he would have the best chance to win back the MW and Rust Belt states that Hillary Clinton lost to Trump. I think he may have the best chance to both expand the map and get back the crucial states we lost in 2016. True TX, GA, and AZ have trended blue but it’s gradual and I don’t think we can afford to lose the MW and Rust Belt like we did.
I usually support the candidate I think has the best chance to win the election. Why? The U.S. isn’t a dictatorship. Every President has to pass legislation through the U.S. Congress, so modest differences in policy positions are less relevant.
Yes, Joe Biden would have his drawbacks as a candidate as all candidates do. There is no perfect candidate with just upside no downside. A friend told me his gaffe history and the Anita Hill hearing would come up.
Anyway, I am placing the same poll at the bottom of this diary. As of now, who is your choice for 2020?
I welcome comments about who you currently favor and why. I just ask that you be respectful to people who currently prefer a different candidate. That’s their right and we’re all hopefully on the same team. Remember the least appealing Democrat is 1,000 times better than ANY Republican.
We have to win in 2018 and 2020. I just feel millions of lives depend on it. The good news is there are 118 House seats held by Republicans that are more blue than PA-18. That suggests we could easily take the House, if we run candidates that are well suited for the district. There’s no one size fits all candidate - each district is unique.