By Richard MacTough
Staff Writer
The next presidential election is still three years away.
Democrats are already strategizing how to gain back the White House after President Trump shockingly defeated Hillary Clinton.
It’s important in evaluating the strength and weakness of possible presidential candidates in 2020.
Kamala Harris is currently the senator of California and most likely on the list to run for a presidency.
She has many advantages. Harris is a young and fresh face.
She is quickly becoming one of the most popular senators in the country.
She has a small track record and republicans may find it difficult to attack her. She supported Bernie Sanders Medicare for all bill.
She also has cons. Harris is seen by the far left as the establishment candidate.
This could be damaging in picking up independents and supporters of Sanders in the 2016 primary.
Corporate donors are leaning for her as well.
Elizabeth Warren is the senator of Massachusetts.
She has many advantages.
Warren is a progressive politician and could unite the party.
Her popularity shines of the far left and moderates of the democratic party.
She supports universal healthcare and is strong taking on big banks and corporate donors.
She has gained a lot of attention for her highly vocal opinions of President Trump. She also has cons.
She upset Bernie supporters for refusing to endorse him even if many believed she wanted to.
Many felt she didn’t have the courage to challenge Hillary Clinton.
Bernie Sanders was the runner up in the 2016 presidential primaries.
He has many advantages. Sanders is the most progressive candidate on the list.
He doesn’t take money from lobbyist or corporate donors.
He is the reason Universal Healthcare is a popular issue among many democrats.
Sanders has a populist appeal in similarity with Trump.
He could bring independent voters and be a strong challenger for Trump.
He also has cons.
He is old and his health is a legitimate concern for voters.
He may not be able to gain votes from moderates.
Hillary Clinton was the democratic nominee of the 2016 presidential election as well as the first lady.
She has many advantages.
She is not Trump.
There would be some sanity back in politics.
Clinton supports civil rights.
She also has cons.
Clinton failed to win in 2008 and 2016.
She is tied to lobbyists and easy to attack in the public eye.
Even someone as childish as Trump could make her look like a weak candidate.
She scapegoated Sanders supporters as white sexist males refusing to vote for women.
There is no evidence backing the claim.
She also called Trump voters “deplorables.”
She flips on issues such as gay marriage and the Iraq war.
A third candidacy is basically the democratic party again putting their hands in boiling water.
Email Richard at:
rmactough@live.esu.edu
