The Dem Underdogs

Politico (yeah, I know, it’s Politico) has a photo gallery of Dems who might be presidential nomination candidates in 2016 and who are not Hillary Clinton. As I really don’t want Hillary Clinton to run again, I took a look.

Of these 12, the only one who makes me say “hell, yes” is Elizabeth Warren. Of the remainder, I don’t know enough about Martin O’Malley, Amy Klobucher, John Hickenlooper, or Pete Shumlin to have an opinion, except that I would eliminate Klobucher and Hickenlooper on their names alone. Sorry, but let’s get real here.

What say you?

21 thoughts on “The Dem Underdogs

  1. I like Elizabeth Warren, as well. Martin O’Malley has been a strong governor in Maryland, seems savvy and intelligent and is also good-looking (which can’t hurt).

  2. Amy Klobucher has a clunky name, but an effective organization. Because I supported other female Democratic Senate candidates in 2010 and 2012, I’m still on her emailing list.

  3. Sorry, but I refuse to go to Politico.
    DC MSM Villager cooties!

    Is Kirsten Gillibrand on that list?
    Another unlikely name – like Klobucher and Hickenlooper.

    But, don’t discount unlikely names!

    If I told anyone 20 years ago that we’d have a black President named Barack Hussein Obama in 2009, they’d have probably put me in the non-violent ward in the same asylum that the “Son of Sam” killer was being held in.

    I’m in the ‘any Democrat, except for Andrew Cuomo,’ camp!
    Unless, of course, he’s the nominee.
    And then I’d work like a dog for his campaign, as if my life depended on it – because, if we have anyone but a Democrat for at least a few election cycles – my life won’t be the only one depending on it!!!!!

    • The other listees are Kirsten Gillibrand, Julian Castro, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Mark Warner, Andrew Cuomo, and Deval Patrick.

  4. Plus, unless I’m mistaken, there are a couple of actors with the last name of Gillibrand.

  5. Mark Warner would be a very good candidate. Centrist Democratic, former Governor and current Senator from Virginia, born in the Midwest.

    • I kinda think “Castro” would be a tough sell.

      It’d drive the wingnuts over the cliff, wouldn’t it?

  6. I was curious, so I looked up a couple of those names. Klobucar (original spelling) is a Slovenian name, meaning hatter (from klobuk, hat). Hickenlooper is evidently a German name that got Dutchified in New York.

    Well, I have a Slavic name myself, so obviously I sympathize with Klobuchar. And I also just learned that klobuk is the term used for the awesome hats worn by Orthodox clergy.

  7. I’d love to see a Warren ticket – a Clinton Warren ticket would make me a bit eepy (I think the Clintons were far too friendly to business interests), a Biden Warren ticket could be really cool. I don’t think a Warren- ticket would be very likely, though I’d love to see it.

  8. John Hickenlooper is a smart, competent, moderate Dem who has a good reputation with business leaders. I’ve had a couple of interactions with him that impress me that he is a principled liberal. However, he has come under a lot of criticism from the left for defending “fracking”. He was a geologist before going into brewpubs and restaurants. He is presently putting a lot of political capital and energy behind raising taxes for schools.

    Served well as mayor and as governor. If the political environment weren’t so toxic, moderate Republicans would work with him.

  9. I just want to ensure a win. I’m not a big Clinton fan, Bill or Hill, not progressive enough and certainly Washington insider club members now. Plus, how Bill dealt with Obama, with his snearing and smugness, as if the black guy just wasn’t bowing quite low enough to the first black president. But…. I’d go Biden and then Warren, Mark that is. He could be a southern governor type that could walk a fine line and win VA and a few other southern blue-leaning states to get elected. Dream candidate is Warren, Elizabeth. If she moved the WH to NYC, across from Wall Street I would be alright with that.

  10. I know its early but 2016 is shaping up like deja vu all over again with Hillary Clinton as heir apparent. I don’t have a particular aversion to Hillary, however it would be great to see someone else step up.

    There are only three on that list that excite me to any extent: Biden, Warren and Patrick.

    In the final analysis, I don’t care who it is, as long as they are willing and able to fan the flames on the GOP’s continuing self immolation.

  11. What about Howard Dean? If the walking gaffe machine Perry can run again why not Dean? I like E. Warren, but she’s a little too unique to get elected IMO, plus the banksters would have her shot! Anyone but Hillary, please!

  12. Yeah, I’m for Hillary – and even if I didn’t like her (and I do) there are a couple of awesome reasons:

    1. Expanding the map
    2. Inflicting existential type defeat on GOP
    3. Coattails

    She’s also pretty clearly Obama’s choice – his campaign team is already starting to work for her.

    I’m curious as to why a few commenters here actually believe Joe Biden is more progressive and less tied to big business than Hillary? That seems a bit wishful to me.

  13. If Hillary runs, I will be for her; but, since she is the same age I am, i wonder about her age. I, for one, at 67 enjoy my retirement greatly and I have a whole lot less money than Hillary. However, we all take age differently. I am always told that I look barely 50, which is nice. But, on many days I feel 95. I tend to think Hillary does not have my health problems; but, gee whiz, if you were pushing 70, don’t you think you would prefer to have a less demanding job than being President of the United States?! Still, if it has been a lifelong dream of hers, I give her credit if she decides to run. I lived in Maryland when O’Malley was Mayor of Baltimore and then Governor and found him to be a good leader. I think his Irish name would be a plus. Warren would be too good to be true and would face some really stinky people such as the ones who wanted to keep her from being head of the CFPB. But, it is a long way off and I think I will play Scarlet O’Hara and just not think about until election time.

  14. I don’t know if Hillary still has the fight.. but if she does I’d get behind her. She’s earned it.

  15. Them Repugs ought to give Herman Cain another go at it…9-9-9 might be just what this country needs to get us back on track.

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