a quick look at Democratic potentials

While the mainstream media focuses almost exclusively on Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, and only two candidates from the Democratic field (Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton), we want to shed light on other Democrats who are running for nomination in July 2016. This group includes Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, and former Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland.

Senator Chafee is the odd man out from the selection of Democrats. As a Republican, he was the only member of his party who voted against the Iraq War and furthermore, voted for President Obama twice. Chafee’s campaign strategy is bold; the Rhode Island senator has the nerve to go after the party’s favorite, Hillary Clinton. Chafee switched his party affiliation from Republican to Independent in 2007 and to Democratic in May 2013.

Next to Chafee is the socialist (a person who advocates for common ownership of resources) of the group: Senator Bernie Sanders. Like Chafee, his campaign strategy is bold, but what makes him so appealing is his role as a Washington insurgent. Millennials (people who were born in the early 1990’s), whose votes could have swung the 2012 election, are leaning towards Sanders for his originality. His proposed College For All Act promises to make public college tuition free and claims it will be“[..]Fully paid for by imposing a Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street [..]”

Another member of the group is former Senator Jim Webb. Webb was the Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan years; he, along with Chafee, is an outspoken critic of the Iraq War. Webb disagrees with the “new” direction of the Democratic Party, remarking in an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, “I believe we can bring a different tone to the Democratic party [..] the party has moved far to the left. [..] We need to bring working people back into the formula.” While Sanders’ base is composed of millennials and educated Whites, Webb refers to a different demographic: poor whites in the Appalachians, saying, “[..]These are people that have been forgotten by both parties.” His brand of Southern conservatism is becoming increasingly rare in a party that finds traction with a self-proclaimed Socialist, even refusing to attend the recent DNC (Democratic National Committee) Summer Meeting.

The only governor running here is Martin O’Malley of Maryland. O’Malley runs on the base of millennials and mainstream skeptics. As governor, O’Malley signed a bill that would make illegal immigrants eligible for in-state tuition. When asked about the Baltimore protests, O’Malley answered, “ [..] Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter.” His remarks resulted in controversy, some seeing his words as insensitive. O’Malley is not a stranger to controversy; much recently, he gave a speech at the DNC summer meeting, declaring the Democratic primary system “rigged.” The party has not scheduled any debates until October and prohibits candidates from participating in non-DNC debates.

Which candidate (from any party) do you support? Do you think Vice President Joe Biden should run for the Democratic Nomination?