Opinion of the 2016 Democratic bench

[You kip if you want to...]

Discuss.


No, but seriously...
Kirsten Gillibrand? Andrew Cuomo? Brian Schweitzer? Martin O'Malley? This is Gore 2000/Kerry 2004 all over again...

[Senator Snowstalker]

After Obama won, we thought the 2012 bench would be Romney, Palin, Huckabee, Barbour, and Thune.

It's not a strong field, but it's no 1988 Democrats or 2012 Republicans, though I'd proudly vote third party against Andrew Cuomo if Democrats decide to reject any remaining trace of left-wing economics. I'm eying Schweitzer, O'Malley, and maybe Feingold as people I could support.

[You kip if you want to...]

If the 2016 primary is a very cannibalish one (like this year's for the GOP), Cuomo will be our Romney. People only like him 'cos the media tells them to like him.

[politicus]

Neither horrific nor amazing. About average, maybe slightly below average.

[I Can't Get That Sound You Make, Out Of My Head]

Average.

Though it's too early to say.

[hcallega]

I think that Cuomo and O'Malley are the two strongest Democratic contenders. Both have strong fundraising bases, are personally charismatic, and have ties to the Democratic establishment. They have also been generally successful as Governors and have presented Democratic alternatives to Republican fiscal policies.

[Mr.Phips]

I think that Cuomo and O'Malley are the two strongest Democratic contenders. Both have strong fundraising bases, are personally charismatic, and have ties to the Democratic establishment. They have also been generally successful as Governors and have presented Democratic alternatives to Republican fiscal policies.

Let Cuomo drown.  He basically caved to Republicans, allowing them to control the State Senate forever.  Ill work hard against him in 2016. 

[realisticidealist]

Cuomo seems like he could be strong, but his economic positions are way too conservative while the only things he seems to really be leftist about are gay marriage and abortion. I don't think I could vote for him.

Schweitzer seems a bit more promising, and I haven't really heard too much about O'Malley. Not a huge Gillibrand fan.

[MilesC56]

Cuomo seems like he could be strong, but his economic positions are way too conservative while the only things he seems to really be leftist about are gay marriage and abortion. I don't think I could vote for him.

Schweitzer seems a bit more promising, and I haven't really heard too much about O'Malley. Not a huge Gillibrand fan.

Exactly.

[You kip if you want to...]

Jay Nixon? Senator Blumenthal? (...Mark Warner? )

Surely the bench should be a bit better after 2006 and 2008.

[Zioneer]

Schweitzer seems like he could be a shot in the arm (if you'll forgive the old saying) for Democratic discourse in the United States. He's willing to engage the Republicans on his terms, not on their terms. He doesn't try to be professorial like Obama, but neither is he rude to opponents like Chris Christie in the GOP is. He could shift the liberal discourse from trying to keep up with Republicans to forging their own path. Do you see what I mean by that? He's a totally different type of candidate than Barack Obama was. He's got the small-state, combative credentials, while still being pleasing to most Democrats. Plus, he'd be the first candidate to completely throw off the dying issue of gun control (notice how the Dems haven't done anything about it for years, but still consider it an important issue), which could revitalize the left in the Midwest. I prefer Schweitzer to any other contender.

O'Malley I also like, because he seems like an Obama with more of a spine. To be fair, he's already in a blue state, but he seems willing to call out the right on social AND economic issues, and seems calm and reasonable.

Andrew Cuomo seems like a sellout already, despite his push for gay marriage. His wheeler-dealer image makes me cringe every time I hear about it, and he seems too willing to concede to Republicans on economic issues. Sure, he balanced the budget in NY, but at a heavy cost. Plus, he doesn't seem to have the spirit his dad has. Much more of a Democratic Romney than anything else. Also, he has skeletons in his closet from his days at HUD.

Gillibrand is meh for me. She's a good VP candidate, but I never cared for a Hillary-esque politician, and she seems like that sort of candidate.

If we're going for a female contender candidate in 2016, I could see Claire McCaskill as a fine candidate; moderate, but still fiery when needed.

[Chris B]

I'm probably in the minority, but I'd say at first glance that it looks better than what the '08 bench shaped up to be.

[I'm JewCon in name only.]

I'm crazy for Cuomo. But I'm not a fan of the rest.


But I'm a Conservative Independent/Republican so It doesnt matter what I think

[WalterMitty]

time to fire up the mark warner bandwagon.... 

but if we are talking virginians...one serious darkhorse has to be former governor (and future senator) tim kaine.

[Cobbler]

I actually really like Schweitzer and Cuomo, and would consider voting for them depending on the Republican nominee.

[Vosem]

I actually really like Schweitzer and Cuomo, and would consider voting for them depending on the Republican nominee.

Have to second this, especially Cuomo. I would never vote for O'Malley or E. Warren (who's already being talked about as a presidential contender, which frightens me).

[Nagas]

If we want to lose in a 1988 style, we can nominate Warner.

I think the bench is solid.

Schweitzer is a powerful candidate. He puts the Republican electoral map into a bind (it currently favors the Dems, oh so slightly), by putting Montana into our column and possibly making the Dakotas swing.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I think that Cuomo and O'Malley are the two strongest Democratic contenders. Both have strong fundraising bases, are personally charismatic, and have ties to the Democratic establishment.

Cuomo is far from charismatic. From what I've seen he seems rather dour and dull.

[Platypus]

If the P is a she, the VP will be O'Malley or Schweitzer, almost for sure. But I have no idea who might be up for the P.

[Beet]

The grapevine here about O'Malley is a potential trouble spot for him. There are two problems for him - one small, one potentially significant. The small one is that he is a bit aloof. The other one, has been swirling around for years, and it's never stuck in any of his Gubernatorial races, but it would come out in a Presidential campaign.

[Senator Snowstalker]

The grapevine here about O'Malley is a potential trouble spot for him. There are two problems for him - one small, one potentially significant. The small one is that he is a bit aloof. The other one, has been swirling around for years, and it's never stuck in any of his Gubernatorial races, but it would come out in a Presidential campaign.

...he's gay, isn't he?

[Zioneer]

The grapevine here about O'Malley is a potential trouble spot for him. There are two problems for him - one small, one potentially significant. The small one is that he is a bit aloof. The other one, has been swirling around for years, and it's never stuck in any of his Gubernatorial races, but it would come out in a Presidential campaign.

...he's gay, isn't he?

Nah, just (rumors) of martial infidelity that according to Wikipedia were spread by a Maryland Democratic party official. Probably a falsehood spewed by a disgruntled official, judging by it's lack of staying power.

[perdedor]

Can we not find a single practical progressive option to bring to the table? Cuomo, Gillibrand, Shweitzer, Warner...uggh. I wish Jack Reed would run, no idea how much interest that would garner though.

[Comrade Funk]

Pretty decent bench. Schweitzer, O'Malley, and Gillibrand are solid. Schweitzer is my favorite.

[asexual trans victimologist]

If these were the final four I'd be okay, with the exception of Cuomo, who's pissed away the last of my good will for him for gay marriage by now. He is essentially a European rightist.

I like Gillibrand a lot but Schweitzer is my favorite as a Presidential contender, and in all likelihood who I will be supporting to succeed Obama absent any unexpected entries. A Western progressive populist with more of a common touch than Gore, Kerry, or Obama could do some very good things for the party's discourse. (John Kitzhaber out in Oregon has some of the same benefits but he'll be almost seventy.) O'Malley is acceptable.