There’s no doubt, no debate, that Barack Obama was one of the best campaigners ever. This unknown guy who did nothing got himself elected to the Illinois general assembly, then, after doing nothing, elected to the U.S. Senate, then, after doing nothing, elected president. Twice. Of course, that campaigning ability didn’t apply to other Democrats, since the Democrats lost well over 1,100 seats nationwide, including ones Obama campaigned for. He lost the House in 2010 in historic fashion. Then lost the Senate. Quite a few Democrats wanted nothing to do with Obama for the 2012, 2014, and 2016 election seasons, telling him to stay away. Hillary Clinton, who served as his Secretary of State, lost in 2016. And now
Candidates in Obama’s orbit fail to capitalize on personal ties
Former President Obama may be the most popular Democrat, but the candidates in his orbit have all but fizzled in their quest for the White House.
There’s Joe Biden, Obama’s vice president, and his friend, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Both Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro served in his administration.
At one point or another in the 2020 campaign, all have touted their relationship with the former president in speeches, campaign videos and town hall appearances.
And it hasn’t made much difference.
“You can talk a lot about Obama, but you’re still not Obama,” said Democratic strategist Eddie Vale. “He was a fantastic candidate, campaigner and orator. No matter how much you interacted with him or praise him now, that still doesn’t give you his innate talents.â€
Interesting. Obama doesn’t even have to endorse them and they still flounder. Because, let’s face it, Joe and Liz are pretty much done, unless the others really flame out.
Early on, a number of senior Obama aides said former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) was reminiscent of their former boss, inspiring a large movement of support for the Texas Democrat.
“I have never seen a Senate candidate—including Obama in 2004—inspire the sort of enthusiasm that Beto did in his race,†Dan Pfeiffer, Obama’s former senior adviser, wrote about O’Rourke’s Senate bid in 2018. “Not only should Beto run, there is a strong case to make that if he were to do so, he would be one of the strongest candidates in the field.â€
That didn’t work well, eh? Twice for Beto. The Senate run and then for president. Perhaps that is why Obama is not planning on endorsing anyone, because that tends not to work out very well. Sure, he’s had some wins, but, when it counts? Not so much.
Meanwhile, Trump is just erasing Obama’s legacy, killing off his executive orders and such.
Trach pergaps you have forgotten our lady national elections which swept in the dens to control the House of Representatives
Send received 10 million more votes than did Republicans in that election
It was a referendum on Trump
Teachh pergaps you have forgotten our last national elections which swept in the dems to control the House of Representatives (the Peoples House)
Dems received 10 million more votes than did Republicans in that election
It was a referendum on Trump
And Mexico will pay for the Wall?
@John
We have not forgotten that fact the left lied to get into moderate districts and then immediately shifted far left and said yes ma’am, no ma’am to Nancy Pelosi to whatever way she wanted them to vote.
Perhaps you have not been paying attention to several of those same house members saying that Bernie Sanders and Bloomberg make it nearly impossible for us to be reelected in 2020.
Our esteemed host quoted:
Sounds like Mr Pfeiffer would have fallen to his knees and, well, you know, when it comes to charismatic candidates. I s’pose his wife, Howli Pfeiffer, might need to keep a closer eye on him, because he might be inclined to take an occasional walk on the wild side.
That Beta O’Rourke has charisma is undeniable. He’s handsome, articulate and wealthy, just the perfect guy to be portrayed as Kennedyesque. But, fortunately, Texans are smarter than the voters in Massachusetts, and they saw that this particular cowboy was all hat, no cattle, and returned one of the least charismatic men, Ted Cruz, to the United States Senate.
Charisma was the basis of Mr O’Rourke’s presidential campaign, but the very early campaign didn’t really let a lot of people actually meet him, and he floundered. Then he took far, far, far left positions, promising to take away people’s firearms and telling us that he’d send in the gendarmerie in to seize them from those who would not comply. He made stupid missteps like tweeting getting his teeth cleaned, and basically sent the impression that, compared to scolds like Elizabeth Warren, he just wasn’t a very serious candidate.
It’s funny that Bloomberg is spending millions on internet ads claiming he has Obama’s endorsement. Complete with clips of previous Obama speeches.
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