Outside the Beltway

More Withering Beto

Setting aside poking a little fun, this number of candidates is just not sustainable.

Steven L. Taylor
10

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Via the Dartmouth: Beto O’Rourke holds town hall at College.

Before O’Rourke’s entrance, a campaign staffer attempted to excite the crowd by beginning a “Beto” chant. The chant died after a few seconds, and the staffer repeated his attempt five more times.

Dedicated hype man or shades of “please clap”?

O’Rourke is the ninth Democratic presidential candidate to visit Dartmouth and the sixth candidate to host an event with over 300 attendees, according to New Hampshire College Democrats president Michael Parsons ’20. 

Setting aside poking a little fun, this number of candidates is just not sustainable.

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10 responses to “More Withering Beto”

  1. Doug Mataconis Avatar
    Doug Mataconis

    I think its far too early to start writing off candidates. In the summer of 2007 everyone thought John McCain’s bid for the GOP nomination was dead.

    3
  2. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    @Doug Mataconis: On the one hand, sure. On the other, with this many candidates the dynamic is different. There is no way they can all be viable.

  3. Doug Mataconis Avatar
    Doug Mataconis

    @Steven L. Taylor:

    No, and most of the candidates polling at 2% or less are likely to stay there. But O’Rourke is not in the bottom of the back yet and a temporary setback isn’t necessarily irreversible.

  4. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    @Doug Mataconis: Well, sure. But at the moment I would not be surprised if he doesn’t make to the first actual contest. I will be quite surprised if he is a major competitor in March. But things could change, of course.

  5. al Ameda Avatar
    al Ameda

    long way to go ….
    Bernie and Joe have baggage, Biden more so. The others have to prove that they have staying power. To me, Elizabeth Warren seems to have caught her stride and the 137 others are sill trying to connect on the big stage.
    …. still, a ways to go before the 1st caucus/primary

    3
  6. Moosebreath Avatar
    Moosebreath

    @Steven L. Taylor:

    “I will be quite surprised if he is a major competitor in March.”

    I hope he will be a major competitor in March … in the primary for the Texas Senate seat.

    3
  7. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    @Moosebreath: This strikes me as the far smarter move, yes.

    1
  8. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    They’re all trying to get big audiences early to stand out–*that* is not sustainable.

    Any candidates pushing to fill halls this early–particularly in NH–will see their efforts slide because there are just. too. many. of. them.

    1
  9. James Joyner Avatar
    James Joyner

    @Steven:

    [T]his number of candidates is just not sustainable.

    You’re certainly right but I haven’t the foggiest idea what to do about it unless we go back to party bosses simply picking the nominee. There’s no way Pete Buttigieg should be running for President given his experience level and yet he’s doing better than a dozen objectively more qualified people in the early running. And, frankly, anyone over 70 on Inauguration Day should be disqualified and yet Trump vs Biden is the odds-on favorite matchup right now.

    3
  10. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    @James Joyner:

    unless we go back to party bosses simply picking the nominee.

    I actually think that is probably the right way to go (but would need to further elaborate as to why, although I think I have talked about it some before).

    4

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