2016 Postmortem

Calculating

(2,996 posts) Tue Nov 29, 2016, 12:16 AM Nov 2016

Did Hillary's VP pick cost her the election? [View all]

Bernie supporters and other hard progressives were already stewing, and it seemed like Hillary did little to extend an olive branch to them. Simply picking a progressive running mate may have inspired these disillusioned people and given Hillary the turnout she needed. Instead she basically doubled down on establishment when she picked Tim Kaine. Trump got fewer popular votes than Romney. The difference was in the turnout Hillary drew compared to Obama. Several months ago I predicted Trump's win condition on here, and shockingly it came true. Low Democrat voter turnout caused by a campaign lacking in excitement.

The only other thing Hillary could have really done significantly better would have been to completely drop gun control from her platform. Gun control is a losing issue politically. It will always lose more voters than it will gain. For better or for worse, Americans love their guns.

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Did Hillary's VP pick cost her the election? [View all] Calculating Nov 2016 OP

YAWN........ Historic NY Nov 2016 #1

According to who, and why? Calculating Nov 2016 #10

He was fairly well known in Democratic circles. Historic NY Nov 2016 #18

maybe in the bubble, not so much in the real world. Cobalt Violet Nov 2016 #22

'YAWN' INDEED! BlueProgressive Nov 2016 #38

Ditto on the yawn. DU is in a paranoid holding pattern until the inauguration. Buzz Clik Nov 2016 #52

I know right? ismnotwasm Nov 2016 #68

Nope... Farmgirl1961 Nov 2016 #2

No. Tim Kaine was a good balance. AgadorSparticus Nov 2016 #3

Not at all GP6971 Nov 2016 #4

if they didn't vote for Clinton they are not progressive . and no, Kaine was a great pick JI7 Nov 2016 #5

No. A DUer wrote: elleng Nov 2016 #6

She spent a lot of time and resources in Pennsylvania oberliner Nov 2016 #14

The polls coming out of WI were showing it was safe. LisaL Nov 2016 #43

Except the guy FROM WI, who won elections there before said he needed help Goblinmonger Nov 2016 #45

Right. Thanks. elleng Nov 2016 #58

I think the Clinton campaign was incredibly out of touch. Goblinmonger Nov 2016 #59

Yes, they were. I've posted an article about 'out of touch.' elleng Nov 2016 #62

It's depressing Goblinmonger Nov 2016 #64

Depressing to say the very least, Goblinmonger, elleng Nov 2016 #72

Robby Mook sure ain't no Carville! elleng Nov 2016 #73

Sounds like the DNC put too much money into the top of the ticket and not enough into the Senate. Ace Rothstein Nov 2016 #57

Of course she did. Her entire primary campaign was built on the southern firewall lumberjack_jeff Nov 2016 #60

Next... Zambero Nov 2016 #7

No. So we're supposed to capitulate to the NRA now too? emulatorloo Nov 2016 #8

It's about winning elections Calculating Nov 2016 #11

How about being right on an issue... yallerdawg Nov 2016 #54

No. Capitulation is what happens when you lose elections. n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2016 #61

It was only one of many mistakes she made, and it's really far down on the list. Exilednight Nov 2016 #9

there are multiple reasons why she "lost" despite winning by 2.3 million votes msongs Nov 2016 #12

Yes she lost. Kentonio Nov 2016 #25

She won Califonia by 4.4 million, and NY by 1.5 million. jmg257 Nov 2016 #48

Long lines in "certain places" and... pat_k Nov 2016 #13

Kaine was basically a non-factor - he was essentially a safe "do no harm" pick. Midwestern Democrat Nov 2016 #15

Surveys suggest overwhelming support for gun control. Garrett78 Nov 2016 #16

That must be why Duckhunter935 Nov 2016 #37

The white wing racists gun humpers would have voted for Trump if Clinton had given them all Hoyt Nov 2016 #44

No. phleshdef Nov 2016 #17

Ah, No...... a kennedy Nov 2016 #19

Oh please... radical noodle Nov 2016 #20

It didn't help killbotfactory Nov 2016 #21

I'm so sorry you and others still think Warren is a liar. She TOLD anybody who asked that she ... Hekate Nov 2016 #24

Don't be silly.Hillary embraced Bernie's platform & melded it with her own.Kaine is absolutely solid Hekate Nov 2016 #23

Your candidate just handed the white house and the senate to Donald Trump. Kentonio Nov 2016 #26

Your candidate? MyNameGoesHere Nov 2016 #31

Primary candidate, not party nominee for goodness sake. Kentonio Nov 2016 #35

Who did you vote for might I ask. Did Bernie's endorsement of Russ Feingold and still_one Nov 2016 #34

Kaine solid? Let's ask DU's resident Sanders supporters... Bueller? Bueller? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2016 #63

I would ascribe his still being a Senator to being mid-term in his own 6 year seat, plus being.... Hekate Nov 2016 #65

If there is 2020! There is going to be an unstable maniac at the helm montana_hazeleyes Nov 2016 #27

Even assuming that there isn't a nuclear conflict from these unstable people, the damage that still_one Nov 2016 #36

I don't think he hurt or helped. nt Raine Nov 2016 #28

No kebob Nov 2016 #29

no bernie cost her the election. stonecutter357 Nov 2016 #30

Did Bernie endorsing Russ Feingold and Zypher Teachout cost them the election? still_one Nov 2016 #32

No... Mike Nelson Nov 2016 #33

No...by the time the bitter divisive primary with no conceession was over the damage was done. Demsrule86 Nov 2016 #39

That's one way to look at it. Exilednight Nov 2016 #69

There was a nationwide collective gasp, followed by the question, "Who the fuck is Tim Kaine?" TheBlackAdder Nov 2016 #40

Sadly, very sadly, I agree with your sentiments about the gun control cause. mtnsnake Nov 2016 #41

It didn't help. Vinca Nov 2016 #42

No mcar Nov 2016 #46

Certainly didn't help. Goblinmonger Nov 2016 #47

No. Orsino Nov 2016 #49

omg Dem2 Nov 2016 #50

No. eom saltpoint Nov 2016 #51

Tim Kaine was a great vp choice and gave Clinton Virginia Gothmog Nov 2016 #53

I can only speak for myself. Baitball Blogger Nov 2016 #55

Tim Kaine is fine. raging moderate Nov 2016 #56

Kaine was a poor choice. It did nothing to engage Sanders supporters. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2016 #67

No. Hillary lacks charisma. She is a natural introvert.... Gram Parsons Nov 2016 #66

I don't think anyone really noticed him. He's that kind of guy. jalan48 Nov 2016 #70

I don't think it cost her anything, but I also don't think it helped... TCJ70 Nov 2016 #71