Discussion: Swalwell Confirms He's 'Considering' 2020 Presidential Run

[daveminnj]

I think I pay attention, yet this is the first time I recall ever reading his name. Maybe it would be different if I watched cable–

[jonney_5]

@trumpdog

A lot of people never heard of Barrack Obama before he announced his candidacy for presidency either.(Note: I’m not making comparisons between Swalwell and Pres Obama; just making a note that just because one has never heard of him does not mean it’s a bad thing. He has an opportunity to introduce himself to people during a campaign.)

Fair but Obama actually took a well worn path of Keynote address to the DNC in 2004. Folks who follow politics knew who he was, folks who watched Oprah knew who he was. He had national stature.

Swalwell, less so.

I suppose I should have said…

"The fact I never heard of him and I follow politics

Perhaps should Harris ascend to the Presidency (or VP, AG) Swalwell will have set himself up to try and slip in the vacant Senate seat. (I still like Schiff)

[brooklyndweller]

What can the Red States offer the Dems in terms of representing a diverse constituency? By 2020, there will probably be a liberal cultural majority in the country. Even if we somehow get a Dem from a Red State that has progressive ideas, I don’t see the appeal at all. One thing we’ve seen with some elections this year, is that it’s not so much the political lean of a candidate so much as the Dem base wants to see more politicians that appear at least to understand their history and how they live their lives.

[darcy]

Well, for one thing, he’s not pushing eighty. Isn’t that a disqualifier? And he’s got a great tan - you know, on the beach all the time.

[frantastic]

@jonney_5

Folks who follow politics knew who he was, folks who watched Oprah knew who he was. He had national stature.

I’ve heard people comparing the energy at Beto’s rallies to Obama’s early rallies. I don’t doubt Swalwell could pull in a large quiet room of msnbc watching Dems who want to hear about checks and balances, the Mueller investigation but that’s very different from a grassroots enthusiasm.

I’l knock on doors regardless of who the candidate is but it helps to feel inspired by the individual.

[jonney_5]

@spin

Unfortunately as we found out with Hillary, absent a really good simply set of slogans or a winning personality, the other person wins.

I think we found out what we already know. If it isnt a young exciting candidate, we lose

[dont]

If Swalwell doesn’t have the charisma or the moxie he won’t get thru the primaries.
We’ll see what happens.

[jonney_5]

@frantastic

I’l knock on doors regardless of who the candidate is but it helps to feel inspired by the individual

That was exactly what I said in 2016.

[pluckyinky]

@brewhousebob

Even those of us who always expected the absolute worst from trump and his goons may be in for a surprise.

I’ve thought that from the beginning. Whatever comes out, no matter how corrupt one believes these people to be, we will all be shocked at the amount of criminality involved.

[frantastic]

@brooklyndweller

What can the Red States offer the Dems in terms of representing a diverse constituency?

There are red states with diverse constituents, Texas (Beto) & Louisiana (Landrieu) to name two.

@brooklyndweller

Dem base wants to see more politicians that appear at least to understand their history and how they live their lives.

What about a stiff highly educated white male from one of the most affluent areas of the country says Swalwell understands jack about minority or low income people’s struggles outside of what he’s read?

[brooklyndweller]

Depends on how convincing our candidates are. No doubt we’re going to have as many Dems on stage in 2020 as the Rethugs did in 2016. I just think that a person of color might be more appealing in 2020 to the Dem base. (no, I’m not trying to subtly imply Harris will run).

[calkundera123]

That’s my argument against Sen Klobuchar. The charisma of a chair.

[trumpdog]

@jonney_5

Fair but Obama actually took a well worn path of Keynote address to the DNC in 2004.

Well everyone has different paths. I watched Oprah but never really knew who he was until he started campaigning. Sure some people outside Chicage knew him but he was not nationally known.

I don’t have a firm opinion of Swalewell, I just don’t think he should be counted out because no one knows him.

[brooklyndweller]

I guess she had just enough charisma such that she got elected and re-elected.

[spin]

That and $2.25 will get you on the bus in SF.

Lots of reasons why Hillary is not in the white house (comey and the NYT top my list) but her lack of an ability to relate more generally in public and her inability to put her ideas into simple explanations, was a good part of it.

I Supported Obama over Hillary in 2008, as I thought he was more electable, and I thought she would just not sell. I hoped that her great work as SoS would carry her though, but unfortunately we got the Hillary of the “secret backroom health care bill” of 1993, and Trump is president.

A candidate who can appeal to people at a gut level, not a head level, is top of my “must have” list.

[frantastic]

@brooklyndweller

Depends on how convincing our candidates are.

Which is why I don’t have a problem with Warren being from Massachusetts. Not only does she have solid working class roots, she’s believable. A candidate doesn’t have to have every ideal attribute (I’m not sure that’s even possible tho Stacey Abrams may be as close as it gets) just enough.

[jtx]

It is what the primary is for.

[matt_shuham]

Update: Compare Swalwell’s commitment to “considering” a bid to other potential candidates’ statements here.

[hornblower]

These days the White House is a starter home. Stalwell may be over-qualified.

[jsfox]

Who?