FLOTSAM & JETSAM: The election so far

Sunday, August 04, 2019

The election so far

Sam Smith - Biden and Sanders are the two candidates who show, in national polls, that they would beat Trump

Trump's average favorable ratings are unchanged since April.

The most popular candidates among Democrats are Biden who has a 29 point recent average and Sanders who has a 17 point recent one.

Biden leads other Democrats in non-blue states such as Nevada, Mississippi, Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina

Democrats who lead against Trump:
  • Biden in Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina 
  • Sanders in Wisconsin, Florida North Carolina
The Democratic debates have been strange and not all that helpful. For example, some issues, like foreign policy, have been largely ignored. The candidates actual achievements had not attracted any attention, thus downplaying the real life experience of former governors and mayors. 

Also the health care debate was not really about philosophy or ideals, but about the sort of tactical differences you would expect to hear in Congress before a vote on something. My own tactical suggestion as a next step towards healthcare for all: lower Medicare age to 55 and have a public option for the rest.