Jeff Merkley vs Sherrod Brown: who would be a better nominee?

[Frimaire]

Which of these two long-time progressives would be the best candidate and/or president?

[hueylong]

I think Merkley would be a strong candidate in his own right, but Sherrod Brown is the obvious answer here. With him as the nominee, Dems could conceivably win back Ohio. He's also insanely good at retail politicking - just ask the Ohio GOP. Republicans spent more than $60 million trying to beat him in 2012 and he still won comfortably, defeating someone who was considered by many at the time to be a rising star in the party. The guy is really something else.

[Skunk]

If Brown wins, Brown. If he loses, Merkley.

If his re-election wasn't a factor I'd say Brown would be stronger, being from the Midwest would (probably) help a lot.

[Sherrod Brown Shill]

I might be a bit biased because I'm an Ohioan, but I really think Brown possibly could be the strongest candidate in 2020. He can win over the Bernie wing due to his populist and far-left ideals and he can over *some* of the Hillary wing due to his endorsement of her in 2015.

[Kingpoleon]

Merkley would be stronger, in my opinion.

[Transgender for Everybody]

If Brown wins, Brown. If he loses, Merkley.

If his re-election wasn't a factor I'd say Brown would be stronger, being from the Midwest would (probably) help a lot.

[MAINEiac4434]

Brow, but I might caucus for uncommitted. Both are awesome.

[GGover]

All presidents are either great men or born in Ohio.

I prefer Merkley, but Brown is the stronger candidate imo.

[Kingpoleon]

All presidents are either great men or born in Ohio.

I prefer Merkley, but Brown is the stronger candidate imo.

Wasn't every GOP President between Lincoln and Hoover who didn't come to office by the death of his predecessor born in Ohio?

[Frimaire]

All presidents are either great men or born in Ohio.

I prefer Merkley, but Brown is the stronger candidate imo.

Wasn't every GOP President between Lincoln and Hoover who didn't come to office by the death of his predecessor born in Ohio?

Benjamin Harrison was from Indiana. And TR was reelected on his own right, I don't know if that counts.

[GGover]

All presidents are either great men or born in Ohio.

I prefer Merkley, but Brown is the stronger candidate imo.

Wasn't every GOP President between Lincoln and Hoover who didn't come to office by the death of his predecessor born in Ohio?

Benjamin Harrison was from Indiana. And TR was reelected on his own right, I don't know if that counts.

Harrison was a senator from Indiana, but he was born in Ohio. Teddy and Silent Cal weren't from Ohio and both were eventually reelected, but they originally came to office by the death of their predecessors.

[Kingpoleon]

All presidents are either great men or born in Ohio.

I prefer Merkley, but Brown is the stronger candidate imo.

Wasn't every GOP President between Lincoln and Hoover who didn't come to office by the death of his predecessor born in Ohio?

Benjamin Harrison was from Indiana. And TR was reelected on his own right, I don't know if that counts.

So was Coolidge, but both came to office by the death of his predecessor. Furthermore, Harrison was born in Ohio.

[For Trump, everything. For immigrants, the law]

I'm a big fan of Merkley, but I think Brown would definitely be a stronger national candidate.

[Frimaire]

Oh, alright. My bad.

[Adam Griffin]

Merkley's boring even by senatorial standards, but I could easily see Brown having an emphysema fit on-stage and/or spewing phlegm all over the audience when a wave of Hackin' Hillary-style smoker's coughs hit him.

[Coraxion]

Brown has a crucial Senate seat that would certainly be gone for Dems if he resigned. Too risky.

[RINO Tom]

Brown has a crucial Senate seat that would certainly be gone for Dems if he resigned. Too risky.

I'm not sure about that...

[McGovernForPrez]

Brown has a crucial Senate seat that would certainly be gone for Dems if he resigned. Too risky.

I'm not sure about that...

Yeah, it's beyond me that people think places like Iowa and Ohio are gone for Democrats. It was one bad election. Obama still won those places by very convincing margins. Just because Hillary flopped like a wet turd doesn't mean they can't be won in the future.

On the other hand I don't see why we should be limiting our White Male progressive populists to just Senators. I think Steve Bullock is a better choice than both of them. He has enough progressive credentials to be popular with the Bernie crowd, and is easily more charismatic than either Merkley or Brown. He's an authentic figure who is able to be progressive in a way that appeals to a lot of different voters. He isn't like JBE who sacrifices a lot of important Democratic social issues in order to win over moderate voters.

[Coraxion]

Okay. Who are the big Democratic names in Ohio? Who's the best their bench has to offer?

crickets...

I thought so.

[Del Tachi]

Definitely Brown

Okay. Who are the big Democratic names in Ohio? Who's the best their bench has to offer?

crickets...

I thought so.

Tim Ryan

[Frimaire]

On the other hand I don't see why we should be limiting our White Male progressive populists to just Senators. I think Steve Bullock is a better choice than both of them. He has enough progressive credentials to be popular with the Bernie crowd,

Does he, though? Apart from one statement against Citizens United, I don't think he has even taken a lot of positions at all, but I may have missed it.

[BuckeyeNut]

Brown would be riskier, but he's a better candidate. It's a shame Tim Ryan didn't run for Governor this year, because he could then appoint Sittenfeld or another young up-and-comer to fill the seat.

Merkley's boring even by senatorial standards, but I could easily see Brown having an emphysema fit on-stage and/or spewing phlegm all over the audience when a wave of Hackin' Hillary-style smoker's coughs hit him.

He doesn't smoke, that's just his voice.

[Medal506]

Probably Sherrod brown since both Clinton and Sanders supporters seem to like him. Plus he's from a swing state

[GoTfan]

Probably Sherrod brown since both Clinton and Sanders supporters seem to like him. Plus he's from a swing state

This. And as Del Tachi mentioned, Tim Ryan's waiting in the wings. If he doesn't nab the House leadership before 2020 and Brown is elected President, I can see him running for the open seat.

[BuckeyeNut]

Probably Sherrod brown since both Clinton and Sanders supporters seem to like him. Plus he's from a swing state

This. And as Del Tachi mentioned, Tim Ryan's waiting in the wings. If he doesn't nab the House leadership before 2020 and Brown is elected President, I can see him running for the open seat.

The state party would damn near crucify him if he didn't.

The other thing to consider is Brown's Senate seat is only lost if he wins. If Brown wins, he should carry Ohio. If he carries Ohio, Ryan should have a decent shot at mobilizing those same voters in a special election.