Many high-profile Democrats have announced that they will be running for the President of the
United States while numerous others have announced exploratory committees.
We are still yet to hear from former Vice President Joe Biden, who many have claimed would be a
frontrunner for the presidency if he decides to run. Out of those Democrats who declared their candidacy,
Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Cory Booker seemed to be best resonating with the base of the Democratic
Party.
Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), though having been plagued by the controversy surrounding
her race, actually has a significant liberal following and delivers a populist pitch. Frequently she vows
to take on Wall Street and is best known for her knowledge of economics and trade. But I think that her
past claims of being Native American and releasing a DNA test that did not exactly prove her claims
have sullied her image as the Democratic candidate who can stand strong on social issues. Though she
has solidified her place in the leftist wing of the Democratic Party, I think that she will eventually be
defeated by a Democratic primary candidate like Kamala Harris.
Kamala Harris (D- California), though also part of the leftist wing of the Democratic Party, has gained
some support among Democrats because of her proposals to establish a Medicare for All program,
complete substantial criminal justice reform, and the legalization of marijuana. Harris has also distanced herself
from other candidates because of her social media presence. This is further explored in an intriguing
Axios article that coined Harris as the “Democrats’ social media phenomenon.” Because of her position
as both a woman and a minority (A Washington Post article discusses how she approaches race in a
more developed light), in addition to her most recent proposals, I would argue that she has the best
chance to win the Democratic nomination for president.
I took issue with one of Harris's comments during a CNN interview, where she indicated that Medicare
for All also meant the elimination of private healthcare.
Cory Booker (D- New Jersey) also presents a rather interesting challenge to his other Democratic
opponents. Recently, Booker has criticized the Trump Administration's tax reform and constantly
mentioned a theme of "radical love." Though Booker remains as a strong Democratic contender,
he was criticized in an article by the left-leaning news source Vox. The article detailed how Booker
offered a confusing response concerning healthcare, as Democrats began to fret over whether Booker
is truly dedicated to establishing Medicare for all.
Perhaps, exactly who the Democratic candidate is really won't matter in terms of the 2020 election.
I think that the real test is if Democrats can return to their roots and win back working-class Americans,
many of whom voted for Donald Trump in 2016.
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