As I see it, Democrats have two paths to victory in 2020. One is the way Obama won. You inspire minority and female voters to support the nominee and win the support of white, working-class voters in rural parts of the midwest. Obama didn't do particularly well with independents in 2012, so it's more about driving up turnout with traditionally Democratic constituencies. The other strategy is to focus heavily on winning independent voters and white working class voters who supported Obama in 2008 and 2012, but then supported Trump in 2016. This is more or less how Bill Clinton won in 1992 and 1996.
Based on this criteria, Democrats would be best off nominating either Businessman Mark Cuban, Former Vice President Joe Biden, Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, or Former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick for President.
Deval Patrick, much like President Obama, has a compelling life story, is an individual of accomplishment, and is a great orator. He inspires many. I believe could win with the Obama coalition. That said, the Republicans would attack him as a Massachusetts liberal.
Joe Biden is well respected, down-to-earth, and I believe he could win using either of the two strategies I outlined. His only major issue will be his age.
Andrew Cuomo has governed New York from the center-left, he is thoughtful, and he's a great politician. Cuomo is a socially progressive fiscal moderate, much like Bill Clinton. Cuomo is also tough, which any Trump opponent needs to be.
Mark Cuban isn't interested in being President, but I believe if leading Democrats got him to run, he would at least consider it. Cuban is accomplished, articulate, and not a politician. He isn't too far left.
There is no question but that millions of Democrats want a nominee like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, or Cory Booker. Americans rejected liberalism in the elections of 2010, 2014, and 2016. President Obama is the only candidate to win as a liberal since LBJ won the 1964 election. Obama tried to sound more moderate, which helped him. Warren, Sanders, and Booker don't do that. As a Never Trump Republican, I can tell you I'd never vote for Warren or Sanders over Trump (I'd vote third party). I would, however, support Biden, Cuomo, Cuban, and possibly Patrick over Trump and then just support the GOP nominee (assuming he or she isn't crazy) in 2024.
Thoughts?
Nixon was the first real conservative since 1928 in 1968.
Conservatism was rejected in '60, '64, and the midterms from '52-'94 straight.
Didn't stop 1968 from game-changing, 1976 being the last cry, and 1980 completely revamping
...We've just past 1976 (complete with the overcrowded field, wild card winner, weird Wisconsin flip, and completely hapless trifecta)...
