Democrats brace for 'bloody' primary season | TheHill - The Hill

Democrats are bracing for a long, drawn-out primary season.

With just six weeks until the Iowa caucuses, some Democrats say they don’t expect a likely nominee to emerge anytime soon after early-voting states hold their contests. Instead, they’re preparing for a bruising four-way match-up that could drag on for months as candidates compete for the chance to challenge President TrumpDonald John Trump Germans think Trump is more dangerous to world peace than Kim Jong Un and Putin: survey Trump jokes removal of 'Home Alone 2' cameo from Canadian broadcast is retaliation from 'Justin T' Trump pushed drug cartel policy despite Cabinet objections: report MORE.

Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe Biden Primary debates threaten to leave people of color behind Longtime campaign aide vows Sanders will continue to combat political establishment as president 2019 in Photos: 35 pictures in politics MORE and Sen. Bernie SandersBernie Sanders Longtime campaign aide vows Sanders will continue to combat political establishment as president 2019 in Photos: 35 pictures in politics Buttigieg surrogate: Impeachment is 'literally a Washington story' MORE (I-Vt.) have consistently topped nationwide polls, but Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann Warren 2019 in Photos: 35 pictures in politics Warren in Christmas tweet slams CBP for treatment of detainees Buttigieg surrogate: Impeachment is 'literally a Washington story' MORE (D-Mass.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPeter (Pete) Paul Buttigieg Bloomberg has already spent 0 million on ads in presidential race Buttigieg surrogate: Impeachment is 'literally a Washington story' Buttigieg campaign introduces contest for lowest donation MORE remain key contenders who show no signs of slowing down.

“It’s going to be uglier than ugly,” one Democratic strategist said, pointing to surveys showing there is no clear winner across the first four states in the nominating process. “It’s going to be a bloody slugfest. And the thing a lot of us fear is that Trump will benefit from all of it.”

Democrats have focused their efforts on electability, making the case for rallying behind the kind of candidate who can topple Trump. Some Democrats say that while a progressive candidate can energize the party’s base and win in the primary, it would be much more difficult for that same White House hopeful to win the general election against Trump.

Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, argued that because the top candidates each have strong pockets of support, the primary may even lead to a brokered convention in July.

“Although people always say that, this time it could be true," Zelizer said. “Democrats are so desperate to defeat Trump they have very different visions of how to do this and won’t concede easily.”

The party's top four candidates — two progressive candidates and two moderate candidates — are indicative of where the Democratic Party is right now, said Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise you are seeing two progressives and two moderates vying for the top spot,” he said, adding that former New York City Mayor Michael BloombergMichael Rubens Bloomberg Bloomberg has already spent 0 million on ads in presidential race Yang asks 'Where's Tulsi?' after video of Democratic candidates leaves her out Bloomberg campaign says it was unaware prison labor was used to make calls MORE is also a wild card in the primary race. “What is the most interesting factor here is that voters are somewhat interchangeable between Biden and Sanders, as they are between Mayor Pete and Sen. Warren.”

“I’d argue it is still a jump ball in every way, and that makes the race to be the Democratic nominee extremely exciting,” Trujillo added.

While the overall field of candidates has shrunk in recent months, it has also seen some late additions, with Bloomberg and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval PatrickDeval Patrick Yang asks 'Where's Tulsi?' after video of Democratic candidates leaves her out 2020 primary debate guide: Everything you need to know ahead of the December showdown Is Joe Biden the Democrats' Mitt Romney of 2020? MORE (D) entering the race, worried Democrats were ill-equipped to defeat Trump.

Voters are also divided, resulting in a race with no clear favorite when considering the early nominating states.

“There’s still a decent amount of time left that one or two people could start consolidating support and narrow it down to a two-person race,” said Democratic strategist Eddie Vale. “But given the amount of uncertainty voters have right now about being definitely settled on their first choice and different strengths these top four have in different early states, I think it’s as likely we go to a brokered convention.”

One factor contributing to a longer-than-usual primary season, Zelizer said, is the “strong and organized” Sanders-Warren constituency that “won’t disappear.”

Even though Biden leads in national polls, surveys are showing other candidates performing stronger in early states.

In Iowa, for example, Buttigieg has become the top contender in some polls. The RealClearPolitics average of state polls puts him in the lead with the support of 22 percent of people polled.

Sanders ranks higher than the other candidates in New Hampshire, at 19 percent support, according to the RealClearPolitics average, and Biden has strong leads in Nevada and South Carolina.

The Democratic strategist who predicted the primary would be a “bloody slugfest” said this election cycle is reminiscent of 2016, when former Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton Chelsea Clinton thanks GOP congressman for tweet depicting her father's 'quick reflexes' Some kids will spend Christmas in border cages Michael Moore: Sanders can beat Trump in 2020 MORE and Sanders were locked in a bitter battle for the Democratic nomination. Clinton emerged the winner, but “she was damaged from the primary,” the strategist said.

“And anyone who says Sanders didn’t hurt her has their head in the clouds,” the strategist said. This time around, a brokered convention “could only add further division at a time when we need [unity] most. It’s a bit of a nightmare situation.”

2019-12-27 11:00:11Z
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