I don’t consider a conversation about who to support in a primary as a matter of convincing other people of my positions, I consider it a negotiation. I judge based on policy, the ability to lead, and a negotiation with fellow citizens about who we could all agree on. This is why I’m a big supporter of IRV because it works in that model… we all have our first choices, and we’re looking for a common denominator as high up the list as possible. If we can’t agree on our first choice, agreeing on a common second choice is ideal.
To disclose my own thinking, I like Bernie. I like Warren, but I am concerned about if she is good enough at campaigning (something she can still demonstrate). Of the conventional, traditional, dem policy candidates, I prefer Harris. Biden is a very tough sell, I’m 51, I watched the Hill hearings, I disliked Biden at the time, and since then it’s not gotten any better with him.
However, I’ll absolutely vote for whomever is nominated. I don’t even expect the DNC to stay out of it, parties are supposed to have a role in this selection process. My line is only this… I will vote for whomever the nominee is, but they better not have a Sister Souljah moment. They better not throw AOC or Ilan Omar or any progressives under the bus to appeal to suburban republicans. They need to admit that there is no free ride here. To do things to appeal to racist suburban politics will lose other voters. That’s just the law of political physics, there is no shaming or guilt project that will save you from that. Obviously if you dogwhistle to conservatives, progressives notice too.
I’ll still end up voting for any democrat, even if they commit the sin I mention above, to be honest. I just won’t trust them, I’ll just oppose them when they sit in the office instead. HOWEVER: many many many votes will be lost if the Dems go to this good old standby. I think that’s the message traditional dems should be taking from 2016-era politics.