Electability

For John, BLUF:  Former Vice President Joe Biden's Reason for being in the race is electability.  Now comes former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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‘Electable’ doesn’t mean Biden anymore.  Here’s who it does.

From The Wash Post, by The Ranking Committee, 8 November 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

I’m Karen Tumulty, and this is Round 40.  I’ve gathered you all here to tell you that, yes, the rumors are true.  After much careful consideration, I have also decided to run for the Democratic nomination for president.  Thank you.

The Commentary

The bombshell news that former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is seriously considering entering the 2020 race (copycat) speaks to something you see in the polls and hear everywhere you go in the early states this primary season.  Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have their differences on the issues, but they are united on what they see as their top priority in picking a 2020 presidential nominee.  It’s what Ken Tentarelli, a man from Newbury, N.H., told me last weekend in Manchester:  “The thing that matters most to me is not who I would like, but who is electable.”

Until now, the “electability” argument has been working mostly in favor of one candidate in the top tier of the crowded Democratic primary field:  former vice president Joe Biden.  Bloomberg’s late move is only the most recent evidence that Biden’s performance as a candidate is not inspiring the confidence that he could actually deliver next November.

But is it true that the rest of the field falls short when it comes to the question of electability?  The newest Washington Post-ABC News poll suggests otherwise.

I think the idea of picking someone electable misses the point that in a good economy there needs to be a "better idea".  Bureaucratic Health care isn't it.  Nor is gun confiscation.

Regards  —  Cliff