The Democrats don't have much of a bench do they

[All Along The Watchtower]

And much of the Democratic bench that does exist is concentrated in states (and especially, the major metro areas of said states) where the party already dominates.

Latinos and young liberals will definitely (continue to) help Democrats in the Sun Belt, but affluent college educated suburban whites aren't quite as reliable as we thought - and this was in an election in which noted vulgar right-wing populist Donald Trump (a man with no government experience and is the scourge of the bipartisan political establishment) was at the top of the Republican ticket! And yes, Democrats do need to stop the bleeding in the Rust Belt - which kinda, uh, hurt them in this election. You're not gonna do that with gross corporate candidates like (*gag*) Gavin Newsom or (*gag gag*) Cory Booker, that's for damn sure.

Not completely dire by any means, but definitely concerning.

[Person Man]

That's why we are starting protesting earlier. Building up infrastructure. We are going to draw in Green Tea Party candidates from the crowds.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA)

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

Sen. Susan Collins (Party Switcher-ME)

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

Sec. of Defense Ashton Carter (D)

Sec. of Labor Tomas Perez (D)

Sen. Kirsten Gillebrand (D-NY)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY)

Former Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA)

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

I'm sure there's more.  If the Democrats can't find a stable of viable candidates out of this list to compete for the 2020 nomination against Donald Trump, they're hopelessly lame.

[Blair]

eh the fabled Republican bench- Rubio, Paul, Cruz, Walker all flamed out. I'm not that worried as Warren, Harris, Booker, etc provide us with some firepower

[Shadows]

Cory Booker, Gillebrand,Cuomo, McCaskill will lead the Dem party to utter ruin - The Democrats are probably in the worst position in 100 years when it comes to State control.

The party is on the verge of ruin & we don't need this hacks - I also have yet to see anything good from Harris so far to not consider a vanilla establishment uncharismatic hack - Let her prove herself!

[Pericles]

The Democrats are in bad shape. They were already wiped out down ballot in two midterms and we're a hollow party, now without the presidency they're are in the weakest shape since the 1920s. However, they can rebuild and there is a path back to power. Times are tough but the party is not done by any means, especially if, as looks likely, Trump is a 'yuge' failure.

[Adam the Gr8]

It sure doesn't look like it when Bernie Sanders and Kanye freaking West are getting the most attention.

[Person Man]

Well, the guy that brought back the GOP wasn't even a Republican yet this time last time. A lot if their governors and congress critters were still rich protesters.

[Figueira]

Translation: The Democrats don't have another Barack Obama.

No, we don't. I think Kamala Harris is great though; my worry is that she's from San Francisco which isn't the optimal place for a candidate to be from. All the Rust Belt Democrats are kind of boring.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Cory Booker, Gillebrand,Cuomo, McCaskill will lead the Dem party to utter ruin - The Democrats are probably in the worst position in 100 years when it comes to State control.

Worse than that, they control the state legislatures and governors of a record low 5 states.

[AtorBoltox]

Maybe this a sign to look beyond elected officials. If the GOP can win with DONALD TRUMP than surely we can find someone better not in public office. The rules have changed, the voters don't care about qualifications and experience any more.

[Blue3]

If only Elon Musk was a natural-born citizen...

[Person Man]

If only Elon Musk was a natural-born citizen...

He could still be a great candidate to run as Governor or Senator in a swing state we are losing.

[Panda Express]

Maybe this a sign to look beyond elected officials. If the GOP can win with DONALD TRUMP than surely we can find someone better not in public office. The rules have changed, the voters don't care about qualifications and experience any more.

Wolf Blitzer 2020?

[PresidentTRUMP]

Cuomo, two term NY Governor, solid choice for 2020. Still to far out to see who might emerge.

[Wiz in Wis]

Parties out of power are much less dependent on finding a "star" due to the other party's tendency to flame out. Still, the Dems do have

Cory Booker
Kamala Harris
Maggie Hassan
Tim Ryan
Sherrod Brown
Martin Heinrich
Deval Patrick
Liz Warren


And, we're still probably due to pick up a handful of Governors Mansions in 2018, assuming pendulums swing as they usually do. And America is due for a recession anyways, regardless of whose in the White House, which could expand those pick ups.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Translation: The Democrats don't have another Barack Obama.

No, we don't. I think Kamala Harris is great though; my worry is that she's from San Francisco which isn't the optimal place for a candidate to be from. All the Rust Belt Democrats are kind of boring.

I was just saying this--in response to you, actually!--in another thread. If she'd stayed in the East Bay the optics would be quite a bit better, I think.

To be fair though Chicago probably wasn't the optimal place for Obama to be from either.

[‼realJohnEwards‼]

Cuomo, two term NY Governor, solid choice for 2020. Still to far out to see who might emerge.

Are you trying to get Trump re-elected?

Oh wait...

[Phony Moderate]

Biden would be a very good choice...if he were at least ten years younger.

[pppolitics]

Every time Obama wasn't on the ticket, it has been a disaster.

We need to develop a strategy beyond having a charismatic leader at the top of the ticket.

[Frodo]

Biden would be a very good choice...if he were at least ten years younger.

Were he around thirty years younger, that would be even better -isn't the minimum age to run for the presidency 35 or so?

[Person Man]

Every time Obama wasn't on the ticket, it has been a disaster.

We need to develop a strategy beyond having a charismatic leader at the top of the ticket.

If it weren't for 9/11, people would say the same thing about Republicans. The GOP ran a bleh candidate in 88 and won. But he was a one termer and was alone in Washington the whole time.

The point here is whether a loud ass incumbent can be beaten. It is not if we can win without our own.

[mencken]

Every time Obama wasn't on the ticket, it has been a disaster.

We need to develop a strategy beyond having a charismatic leader at the top of the ticket.

Obviously they are going to draft Michelle.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Every time Obama wasn't on the ticket, it has been a disaster.

We need to develop a strategy beyond having a charismatic leader at the top of the ticket.

Obviously they are going to draft Michelle.

LOL, she'd probably do about as well as Mrs. Romney in the 1970 MI-Sen race. I believe Nixon was trying to get George Romney to resign his cabinet, and said something like "It could be nice to have a Romney run for the Senate", and George replies with something like "Great idea! I'll have my wife look into it." LOL, fail.

[beaver2.0]

My dream bench:

Howard Dean
Jim Justice
Mark Warner
Collin Peterson
Gene Taylor
Chet Edwards