Democratic Primaries

thesquanderer

(12,524 posts)

141. Probably most polled have not seen the debates. And that worries me.

Fri Sep 13, 2019, 05:45 PM

Sep 2019

A relatively small percentage of eligible voters have seen the debates so far, so if the poll samples are representative, most people polled have not seen the debates, either.

(Last night's ratings were strong, with estimated 14 million watching, but that's only about 10% of the number who voted in 2016.)

The reason it worries me is that I think Biden is weak in the debates, that's where you see that many of his sentences are barely coherent, and many of his answers can veer into unfortunate rambles. I worry that many people think he'll be strong against Trump based on polling and other reasons offered in this thread... but I fear that he will not come off well in debates against Trump, which more people WILL watch.

I worried about this kind of thing after watching videos of some appearances months ago, then felt a bit better after seeing him do better in the debates than some of what I'd seen (maybe he was better, or maybe I'd gotten used to it?), but last night's debate brought that worry back strongly again.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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Why is Biden in the lead? [View all] Sparkly Sep 2019 OP

I trust his values and he is the best at restoring our relationship with allies. EveHammond13 Sep 2019 #1

Any reason not to trust the others Sparkly Sep 2019 #7

Because more people like him than like the others? The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2019 #2

Kinda tautological, but I like him, too. Sparkly Sep 2019 #12

But if most people like him they'll vote for him and he'll win. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2019 #25

Because "liking" isn't enough. Sparkly Sep 2019 #69

Compared to Trump? The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2019 #80

Since you're so worried about what the scary RNC might John Fante Sep 2019 #88

And it will be ANYBODY BUT WARREN TOO...The difference is Joe has ties to and can win the moderate Demsrule86 Sep 2019 #152

Biden's broken record moment BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #3

Just like after every debate NYMinute Sep 2019 #9

It's a transcript, not a knife BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #13

Transcript spun with bad editorializing nt NYMinute Sep 2019 #18

Yep. awesomerwb1 Sep 2019 #29

So you like that answer on its own? BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #32

Right... Sparkly Sep 2019 #20

The Iraq answer was almost as bad BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #26

cf ewarren crazytown Sep 2019 #21

And lost in that word salad is a tired 80s-era respectability policy as well. Embarrassing. WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2019 #22

Was it you touting the Great Julin Castro? OilemFirchen Sep 2019 #40

Yeah, that was sarcasm BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #48

Yikes. nt Tipperary Sep 2019 #67

Biden has empathy ... like Obama and Clinton before him NYMinute Sep 2019 #4

yep. read any cognitive science and you will learn that this is what people vote on. EveHammond13 Sep 2019 #8

I agree PatSeg Sep 2019 #75

Beto just gave a great answer to Chris Matthews EveHammond13 Sep 2019 #10

Julian did a self-immolation tonight nt NYMinute Sep 2019 #17

I believe he drops out soon. Yang will hang around as a side-show. nt Blue_true Sep 2019 #55

Yes, And agree about Beto, emmaverybo Sep 2019 #39

Some people think he has empathy... OrwellwasRight Sep 2019 #102

BS supporters never see the good in other candidates nt NYMinute Sep 2019 #106

Hmmm, that's not judgmental at all. OrwellwasRight Sep 2019 #107

Joe Biden is the most electable candidate that the party has available Gothmog Sep 2019 #109

Yep ... nt NYMinute Sep 2019 #110

pushing us into war with iraq was far from the right thing questionseverything Sep 2019 #153

oh brother .. not this again NYMinute Sep 2019 #154

GOP will have a very hard time smearing him as "socialist" - takes a big weapon away from GOP. EveHammond13 Sep 2019 #5

There are other candidates who can claim that Sparkly Sep 2019 #24

Yes, but, unfortunately, they all poll so poorly (ATM) with my fellow PoC, who are the kingmakers Celerity Sep 2019 #53

Hence my question. Sparkly Sep 2019 #59

Obama, 90% of it is his link to President Obama Celerity Sep 2019 #82

I must be in another universe. Sparkly Sep 2019 #91

The number one overarching issue is defeating Rump in the general. Until Biden looses that mantle Celerity Sep 2019 #99

ITA True_Blue Sep 2019 #157

That won't stop them. FoxNewsSucks Sep 2019 #30

It won't work with Joe. Bernie wears the moniker unabashedly. redstateblues Sep 2019 #86

Lolololol JonAndKatePlusABird Sep 2019 #113

I trust Biden to build the greatest cabinet and executive team EveHammond13 Sep 2019 #6

Above all others? Why? Sparkly Sep 2019 #33

EveHammond13 likes him bigtree Sep 2019 #11

well, I'm sorry your candidate is not doing well but that is not my fault. EveHammond13 Sep 2019 #16

I work retail bigtree Sep 2019 #34

She did very well in the debate. Tipperary Sep 2019 #76

Name recognition mysteryowl Sep 2019 #14

Bingo Quixote1818 Sep 2019 #28

Ha! mysteryowl Sep 2019 #68

Sanders has same level name recognition JI7 Sep 2019 #101

Not at all. I'm willing to bet that there are many voters who can't name their own senators Rhiannon12866 Sep 2019 #132

he ran for president in 2016 , that's how he got higher name recognition JI7 Sep 2019 #134

Sanders' name recognition is nearly 100%. TwilightZone Sep 2019 #136

They think he will get the job done. Big Blue Marble Sep 2019 #15

Why do they think that?? Sparkly Sep 2019 #37

Most of them probably don't watch the debates. Big Blue Marble Sep 2019 #79

Probably most polled have not seen the debates. And that worries me. thesquanderer Sep 2019 #141

Trust . . . Iliyah Sep 2019 #19

I will vote for any Democrat saljr1 Sep 2019 #23

I'm just living in reality... Sparkly Sep 2019 #38

He's got a message. They just got "plans." For instance, he has framed this election in its emmaverybo Sep 2019 #51

People look at Trump and see a 70 year old who is obviously evil and demented. world wide wally Sep 2019 #27

+100 Duppers Sep 2019 #98

Because we have had enough of a president who is going to 'shake things up'? GulfCoast66 Sep 2019 #31

Have you noticed Sparkly Sep 2019 #41

No. I have not. Is he Obama? Of course not. But who is? GulfCoast66 Sep 2019 #47

Is he equal to ANY of the other candidates on the stage?!? Sparkly Sep 2019 #52

IMO, it is the IDEA of Biden, VP to Obama, that gives people a sense of comfort Blaukraut Sep 2019 #35

I agree, policy-wise. Sparkly Sep 2019 #43

I don't know, but I expected more sharpness. I'll give him a couple more debates. Blaukraut Sep 2019 #63

There were a lot of better options on that stage tonight IMO BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #46

This. Tipperary Sep 2019 #72

Warren needs to prove she can win the rust belt back. As it is, she is tied with Trump redstateblues Sep 2019 #95

When in doubt, brandish a meaningless poll BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #97

Warren polls pretty well against Trump in rust belt. thesquanderer Sep 2019 #137

Most job-specific qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable in the field. Also one of America's emmaverybo Sep 2019 #36

Reasons for him to be a good president. Sparkly Sep 2019 #50

I thought we should pick the guy who will make the best prez, and the guy who will is ahead in the emmaverybo Sep 2019 #65

Former union members in the mid west don't want to hear from "pointy headed applegrove Sep 2019 #42

Nonsense jcgoldie Sep 2019 #56

This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Sep 2019 #66

In the mid west obama voters did vote for Trump in numbers big enough to give them applegrove Sep 2019 #73

I live in the midwest and belong to a union and so do both of my brothers jcgoldie Sep 2019 #77

Former union members. People who feel financial anxiety because they lost good jobs. applegrove Sep 2019 #84

Pure speculation ChubbyStar Sep 2019 #90

Was a book that went into regression analysis about how people in financial anxiety applegrove Sep 2019 #96

Uhm jcgoldie Sep 2019 #116

Yep! Thanks for coming back to this convo ChubbyStar Sep 2019 #118

The obama then trump voters were former union people from the midwest. applegrove Sep 2019 #122

Looks to me like the union memeber from the midwest wanted some facts about your claim ChubbyStar Sep 2019 #147

Read the book i reccommend. applegrove Sep 2019 #148

Please YOU made the claim here on DU ChubbyStar Sep 2019 #149

Read all the way down. There were 6 million of the type who are up for grabs. applegrove Sep 2019 #150

Here is some background. Anyone can be fooled. People default to thinking applegrove Sep 2019 #151

You should consider self-deleting BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #61

I should have put it in applegrove Sep 2019 #92

Obama is an intellectual. Sparkly Sep 2019 #62

Obama was cool. And careful. I'm not saying it is right to vote that way. applegrove Sep 2019 #87

Post removed Post removed Sep 2019 #44

Well, finally someone said it. emmaverybo Sep 2019 #54

But he isn't the only one in that category, if that's your flavor. Sparkly Sep 2019 #64

Even Biden's plans will be DOA in the Senate. So talk - no matter who does it - is cheap. Blaukraut Sep 2019 #70

Biden won't push to end the filibuster BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #83

Truth! n/t Blaukraut Sep 2019 #85

I'm right there with you. Bleacher Creature Sep 2019 #45

because he is perceived as the best bet to beat the orange bloat and we need to beat Rump nt Celerity Sep 2019 #49

Why do you knock out Bernie? HelpImSurrounded Sep 2019 #57

I think people also know what Joe is like and how he would govern because he was VP. napi21 Sep 2019 #58

Nevertheless, as a candidate Sparkly Sep 2019 #60

He makes sense. A few wording glitches now and then. Warren pontificates like she's in a lecture emmaverybo Sep 2019 #71

And you think that will get by Trump? Sparkly Sep 2019 #78

You don't seem to want answers, just opportunities to tear other DU'ers down emulatorloo Sep 2019 #74

I am honestly trying to understand why Sparkly Sep 2019 #81

I think Biden in spite of his gaffes comes across as a decent, caring person katmondoo Sep 2019 #89

But so do many others, no? Sparkly Sep 2019 #93

Yes, very humble as well - that plays well in a Trump fatigue era Alhena Sep 2019 #94

Likeable. Experienced. Dignified. Honest. Working class. Laura PourMeADrink Sep 2019 #100

Sour grapes OP? nt BlueMississippi Sep 2019 #103

Joe Biden's appeal actually isn't a mystery Gothmog Sep 2019 #104

Experience, genuine personality, Obama Bradical79 Sep 2019 #105

Biden is by far WON the healthcare debate tonight AlexSFCA Sep 2019 #108

This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Sep 2019 #111

Noun, Verb, Obama. n/t MarcA Sep 2019 #112

That is cruelly good BeyondGeography Sep 2019 #115

Biden has actually been one step away from the Presidency. forgotmylogin Sep 2019 #114

I wasn't a fan of Hillary until her term as SoS. RhodeIslandOne Sep 2019 #117

Name recognition and Barack Obama. Pre-Obama, Biden was not considered pres. material. Garrett78 Sep 2019 #119

You misunderstand how valuable name recognition is. Everyone knows him, and he didn't shit the bed NCLefty Sep 2019 #120

Watching tonight, I saw something I hadn't noticed before ... charisma. YOHABLO Sep 2019 #121

Sanders supporter in 2016, but the Dem party wanted Clinton cliffside Sep 2019 #123

Biden hooked me with his opening ad featuring Charlottesville. He really gets it. ... Hekate Sep 2019 #124

you seem very concerned ! stonecutter357 Sep 2019 #125

Doesn't he though. Starts off with a preamble bashing Biden, "and telling us how bad he is", then still_one Sep 2019 #127

Beto would be leading if he had more experience . JI7 Sep 2019 #126

On what basis do you make that speculation? If you subscribe to that, then aren't you implying that still_one Sep 2019 #129

no, Biden has more experience so i can see why people would support him over Beto JI7 Sep 2019 #130

Of course we all have our opinions, I just think it is way too early in the primary still_one Sep 2019 #131

Biden would be 82 at the end of his first term Martin Eden Sep 2019 #128

Count me in as ageist also. I want a strong 2 term candidate and neither Biden or Sanders are it. seaglass Sep 2019 #133

+1 Martin Eden Sep 2019 #144

Let him serve for one term. IluvPitties Sep 2019 #145

"Radios and record players" TwilightZone Sep 2019 #135

They are only irrelevant... jcgoldie Sep 2019 #138

The pendulum swings... BlueIdaho Sep 2019 #139

He has substantial African-American support customerserviceguy Sep 2019 #140

Who cares why he's in the lead? coeur_de_lion Sep 2019 #142

He is currently polling in the high 40s in SC SCantiGOP Sep 2019 #143

I think DUers are where the country will be - if and when they pay attention. bloom Sep 2019 #146

Biden is not in the lead but just the favorite of those polled. elocs Sep 2019 #155

"Debates should matter..." Um, no. PAMod Sep 2019 #156