Thread by @Robillard

NEW: Every 2020 Democrat Wants To Be The Electable Candidate

Me and ⁦@aterkel⁩ went deep on how every 2020 candidate is trying to persuade voters they’re the one who can beat Donald Trump, and just how difficult those arguments are to evaluate. huffpost.com/entry/electabi…

@aterkel Via @LanaeErickson, here are the seven different theories you’ll hear about what makes a Democratic presidential candidate electable in 2020.

huffpost.com/entry/electabi…

@aterkel @LanaeErickson Rhode Island Gov and DGA Chair @GinaRaimondo is a moderate’s moderate, a centrist’s centrist, but she says ideology is less important in 2020 than a focus on kitchen table issues.

huffpost.com/entry/electabi…

@aterkel @LanaeErickson @GinaRaimondo It’s become fashionable to construct an electability argument out of past election results. But that’s easier said than done.

Plus much of the top tier of candidates – Sanders, Harris, even Booker – has never faced a truly tough race from a Republican.

huffpost.com/entry/electabi…

@aterkel @LanaeErickson @GinaRaimondo HuffPost’s polling makes it clear some Democratic voters view women as less electable than men, which could hurt the female candidates.

huffpost.com/entry/electabi…

@aterkel @LanaeErickson @GinaRaimondo Predictions about which candidates are the most “electable” doesn’t always end well. Manchin predicted Clinton could win back WV. She instead got 27% of the vote.

Now lefties, including @SeanMcElwee, argue the party’s making the same mistake with Biden.

huffpost.com/entry/electabi…

@aterkel @LanaeErickson @GinaRaimondo @SeanMcElwee Team @BernieSanders is very focused on proving his ability to beat Trump – which explains the midwest tour, and even the Fox News town hall.

In my convo with @TulchinResearch, he returned again and again to Sanders’ strength in the blue wall states.

huffpost.com/entry/electabi…

@aterkel @LanaeErickson @GinaRaimondo @SeanMcElwee @BernieSanders @TulchinResearch .@aterkel and I also looked at how voters of color are left out of the electability convo.

While Biden and Bernie supporters bicker about who can win back white voters in PA/MI/WI, an increase in black turnout would help in those three states + FL.

huffpost.com/entry/electabi…