Super Tuesday

Fourteen states held their primary balloting yesterday. Nationally, attention focused on Democrat presidential candidates. The winners appear to be Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Elizabeth Warren did not do well, but neither did Mike Bloomberg or Tulsi Gabbard.


More was on the ballot than presidential choice. Congressional candidates were winnowed down in many districts. These are important races that will determine the fabric of the House of Representatives. Some movement in the Senate is expected as well. Other elected positions appeared on the ballot too. Although national attention rarely casts a shadow there, the personality and temper of political times are forecast by who runs and wins at various levels of state and regional elections.

The primaries are a major mechanism to whittle down those who make it to the final ballot in November. For now our attention is on who will likely be the challenger to the incumbent White House occupant.

Democrats are continuing their dizzying competition for party spokesperson. Will it be a moderate? Or will it be a democratic socialist? Or something in between. Which of these will have the best chance to win support from the American voter? Will their support end the social experiment labeled Trumpism?


First, let us acknowledge that Tom Steyer, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klubuchar have dropped out of the race. Who might be next? Tulsi Gabbard has never actually been a viable finisher.


The odds on winners to make it to the nominating convention are: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and possibly Mike Bloomberg.


These candidates are shown in the polling strength order I believe will be the final lineup. There is doubt of course; Elizabeth Warren remains a candidate but as time marches on voters appear to be backing away from her and toward the other three candidates, all white men of significant age. She is also running out of money so her candidacy may run out by April 1.


OK. Let’s say one of the three remaining men make it to the nomination. Who among the also-rans might they choose for a running mate?  This is the next chapter of leadership selection. A female candidate would be likely. Maybe even the young Mayor Pete?


My preference at this point is Bloomberg over Biden. Both are moderates, but Bloomberg has the executive experience in government, solving huge problems in a contentious age and scarce resources. Biden remains a politically experienced candidate. Which would be better?


My attention does not embrace Bernie Sanders. I feel his liberalism is too much for the nation to digest at this time of our history. His talking points are powerful and should make us think of what our future could be if we truly lived our values. But that takes a faith that may be too far for the American public.


Of course, whoever wins the nomination gets my vote. In the final analysis, voting trump out of office is the number one priority.


March 4, 2020