You know who would have been the best Democrat to beat Trump? No-Scandal John Ed

[Don Vito Corleone]

I think Scandal-free John Edwards would have been PERFECT because

1)1) What was John Edwards shtick? The "Two Americas", a populist message, so he would have neutralized Trump's most electable quality (his populism).

2) By 2016, he probably would have built up a lot more experience then he had pre-scandal, when his only political office held was a one term senator, so people would probably take him more seriously.

3) I am pretty sure he would not have problems turning out the base, because in 2008, he actually
did pretty well if you remember the effects of the scandal, and on top of that, he got squeezed out because him being nominated was nothing special, but his two opponents would have been historic firsts.

4) He would have had a Home state advantage in swing state North Carolina, which would have helped massively (Imagine if the Democrats could count on North Carolina this election the same way Hillary could count on Virginia).

[The Ex-Factor]

Always seemed to me he was better in theory than in practice; similar to Marco Rubio. He came across as a slimy salesman....how many times did we learn that his father was a millworker?

Then again, we've seen personal sleaziness doesn't preclude guys like Trump and Bill Clinton from doing well. So maybe he could staunch the Democratic bleeding with rural whites, but I have a very hard time seeing him making it through the 2016 Democratic primaries.

[This Has Only Just Begun]

Yes and a "No-Scandal" Gary Hart would have beat HW Bush.