Derec
Contributor
Companion thread to Who will be the 2016 Republican Nominee? Conventional wisdom is on Hillary Clinton of course, but that was the case in 2008 as well.
One thing that immediately catches the eye is how incredibly old the prospective Democratic field is this time around, especially among those polling well. If you look at this poll aggregator, the first candidate who is not yet eligible for Medicare is Andrew Cuomo who is in 5th place with only 2.9%. There are even several who are in their 70s.
Also interesting is that several candidates (Hillary, Warren, Webb) used to be Republicans.
As with the Republican poll, the age given with each candidate will be their age as of January 20th, the inauguration day.
VP Joe Biden (DE) - 74
"Hey girl, let me tell you about foreign policy."
Vice president under Obama, long term US Senator. Previous presidential run in 1988 thwarted by plagiarism allegations. Famous for numerous gaffes and riding Amtrak. Ladies man.
Sct. Hillary Clinton (who knows) - 69
"My eyes are up here, Hillary!"
Former Secretary of State, which used to be a stepping stone for the presidency in the early days of the Republic but has become a more terminal post more recently. Before that Senator from NY, a safe Democratic seat she carpetbagged to. Before that first lady for 20 years. Used to be Goldwater girl in the 60s. Prohibitive favorite in the polls but it's still early days. Would be first woman president.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (NY) - 59
"How does this thing work again?"
One of the younger guys in the field and one of the few governors. Would be first New Yorker to become president since FDR. NY governor, NY AG, HUD Secretary under Clinton - pretty varied resume.
Sct. John Kerrry (MA) - 73
"Is Queer Eye still on?"
Current SecState, long term Senator from Mass. Critic of Vietnam war while also having fought in it. Ran an uninspired 2004 campaign. Unknown why he thinks he can do better 12 years later.
Gov. Martin O'Malley (MD) - 54
"Way better than Clinton's sax!"
Youngest canddiate in my field. Still MD governor, but will be replaced by a newly elected Republican. Mayor of Baltimore before that. Ended death penalty. Has his own "Celtic rock" band.
Gov. Ed Rendell (PA) - 73
"Putin is not the only one who can go shirtless."
Former governor of Pennsylvania, a diverse purple state (James Carville described it as "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between") that nevertheless usually votes D for president. Mayor of Philadelphia, Disttrict Attorney. Would be first Jewish president and also only Pennsylvanian other than James Buchanan.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) - 75
"My hair has a mind all of its own"
Oldest candidate in my field. A self-described socialist, would have to change party affiliation to run in Democratic primaries. Senator of VT. Should promise Ben&Jerry's in every fridge. Like Rendell, would be first Jewish president.
Gov. Brian Schweizer (MT) - 61
"A veto pen is for pussies!"
A folksy former governor of Montana, which is in the area of the country where Democrats have not been strong recently. Likes to veto with flair. Speaks Arabic due to his irrigation development work in Libya and Saudi Arabia. Iconoclast on issues such as energy, but liberal on many other issues. Not a fan of political correctness and got into hot water when he compared Sen. Dianne Feinstein to a prostitute pretending to be a nun on the issue of domestic spying (not that he was wrong).
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) - 67
"Cheers!"
Senator from Mass, before that consumer bureau adviser and congressional oversight chief. Along with Sanders another darling of the base although she said she will not run. Latecomer to politics, worked as a professor, for FDIC and bankruptcy commission. Controversially claimed Indian ancestry and minority status as member of faculty at Harvard Law School leading to mockery such as this. Like Hillary, would be first woman president.
Sen. Jim Webb (VA) - almost 71
"Oorah!"
First (and so far only) Democrat to form an exploratory committee, former US Senator from Virginia, Secretary of Navy under Reagan, Marine (photo is from Vietnam). Married thrice, currently to a much younger woman. Not to be confused with the planned James Webb Space Telescope (although it would be cool if it were launched during his administration).
One thing that immediately catches the eye is how incredibly old the prospective Democratic field is this time around, especially among those polling well. If you look at this poll aggregator, the first candidate who is not yet eligible for Medicare is Andrew Cuomo who is in 5th place with only 2.9%. There are even several who are in their 70s.
Also interesting is that several candidates (Hillary, Warren, Webb) used to be Republicans.
As with the Republican poll, the age given with each candidate will be their age as of January 20th, the inauguration day.
VP Joe Biden (DE) - 74
Vice president under Obama, long term US Senator. Previous presidential run in 1988 thwarted by plagiarism allegations. Famous for numerous gaffes and riding Amtrak. Ladies man.
Sct. Hillary Clinton (who knows) - 69
Former Secretary of State, which used to be a stepping stone for the presidency in the early days of the Republic but has become a more terminal post more recently. Before that Senator from NY, a safe Democratic seat she carpetbagged to. Before that first lady for 20 years. Used to be Goldwater girl in the 60s. Prohibitive favorite in the polls but it's still early days. Would be first woman president.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (NY) - 59
One of the younger guys in the field and one of the few governors. Would be first New Yorker to become president since FDR. NY governor, NY AG, HUD Secretary under Clinton - pretty varied resume.
Sct. John Kerrry (MA) - 73
Current SecState, long term Senator from Mass. Critic of Vietnam war while also having fought in it. Ran an uninspired 2004 campaign. Unknown why he thinks he can do better 12 years later.
Gov. Martin O'Malley (MD) - 54
Youngest canddiate in my field. Still MD governor, but will be replaced by a newly elected Republican. Mayor of Baltimore before that. Ended death penalty. Has his own "Celtic rock" band.
Gov. Ed Rendell (PA) - 73
"Putin is not the only one who can go shirtless."Former governor of Pennsylvania, a diverse purple state (James Carville described it as "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between") that nevertheless usually votes D for president. Mayor of Philadelphia, Disttrict Attorney. Would be first Jewish president and also only Pennsylvanian other than James Buchanan.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) - 75
Oldest candidate in my field. A self-described socialist, would have to change party affiliation to run in Democratic primaries. Senator of VT. Should promise Ben&Jerry's in every fridge. Like Rendell, would be first Jewish president.
Gov. Brian Schweizer (MT) - 61
A folksy former governor of Montana, which is in the area of the country where Democrats have not been strong recently. Likes to veto with flair. Speaks Arabic due to his irrigation development work in Libya and Saudi Arabia. Iconoclast on issues such as energy, but liberal on many other issues. Not a fan of political correctness and got into hot water when he compared Sen. Dianne Feinstein to a prostitute pretending to be a nun on the issue of domestic spying (not that he was wrong).
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) - 67
Senator from Mass, before that consumer bureau adviser and congressional oversight chief. Along with Sanders another darling of the base although she said she will not run. Latecomer to politics, worked as a professor, for FDIC and bankruptcy commission. Controversially claimed Indian ancestry and minority status as member of faculty at Harvard Law School leading to mockery such as this. Like Hillary, would be first woman president.
Sen. Jim Webb (VA) - almost 71
First (and so far only) Democrat to form an exploratory committee, former US Senator from Virginia, Secretary of Navy under Reagan, Marine (photo is from Vietnam). Married thrice, currently to a much younger woman. Not to be confused with the planned James Webb Space Telescope (although it would be cool if it were launched during his administration).
