but you got the OP backwards. they'd probably lose with an unapologetically establishment candidate like Newsom or Buttigieg. they'd definitely win with someone running on populist policies, even if it's disingenuous, as long as they can fool enough people. Harris is trying to make herself over as someone who gives a fuck about The People, but no one is falling for it.

(https://xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=5877920&forum_id=2#49966694)

You are right there is a real appetite for populist policies and leadership among the rank and file Democratic base. But that populism is being conquered by the DSA, who are wackos and anti-semitic and often genuinely scary people. The party seems increasingly headed for a civil war of some kind. The clear majority are the moderates, but they can't win without the populists, who are now dominated by the DSA left, and the DSA won't support anything unless they get their way. We've seen this political dynamic play out many times before.

You can see a narrative pattern starting to emerge, Democratic takeover of the house emboldens the DSA, the party gets bogged down investigating Trump on everything under the sun and a couple impeachment attempts but achieve nothing but even worse approval levels for themselves, which the DSA argues means the party isn't radical enough, but the party blames it on the loud DSA members. The moderates attempt to nominate Shapiro, DSA refuses him because he's Jewish and is too moderate, civil war breaks out, to herd off electoral disaster who steps in but Harris, attempting to sell herself as a bridge between the moderates and DSA.

Meanwhile the Republicans nominate probably Rubio (based on internal speculation that Vance won't run because of his new baby). Harris and the Dems will want to make the election a referendum on Trump and the past, but Rubio will say I'm talking about the future. And guess who wins?

(https://xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=5877920&forum_id=2#49966786)

There are poasters who take Clique Theory too far and just assume the Tall candidate or phenotype candidate should win. But electoral politics is different from a job interview or OCI, or impressing a board of directors or something. Scum are legion, URMs are legion. The most successful candidates have cross-Clique appeal. Trump for sure. Obama was beloved by every Loser and every URM.

Newsom is actually shockingly dumb which proles might like. You don’t really know until you try something.

Vance not running bc of his Indian baby is the most millennial thing ever. He must not want to or thinks he’ll Lose. Idk if there’s annything else he could do. he could run 9 terms from now and be younger than Trump atm.

(https://xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=5877920&forum_id=2#49966794)