I realize indulging in political spectator sports is a fault, but here's my "off the cuff" analysis of the prospects of the current crop of Democratic candidates:
Joe "Drug War" Biden - Why vote for Trump-lite when you can vote for Trump?
Elizabeth "Dolores Umbridge" Warren - Even more hated than Hilary Clinton was.
Bernie Sanders - Supporters are passionate, but he's a socialist and doesn't have sufficient cross-party appeal. He's also several years past the median age of death for men, and already had a heart attack. He'll be lucky to survive the campaign, let alone his first term.
Michael Bloomberg - Has money, and extensive political and business experience. But no one's passionate about Bloomberg. It's unclear that he can appeal beyond his core of northeast Democratic supporters.
Pete Buttigieg - Served in the military, and seems competent and kind. But he's gay, has a terrible name, and hasn't held office higher than a mayor.
Andrew Yang - Supporters are passionate, but he seems competent and kind. However, he has no prior political experience, and little name recognition.
Tulsi Gabbard - Young, attractive, and a mainstream Democrat. She's served in the military, served in Congress, and is good on all the issues that Sanders is good on (war, civil liberties). However, she doesn't have money or name recognition. And although I think she would have the most cross-party appeal, she doesn't seem to be very good at winning over Democrats, many of whom were turned off by her vote during Trump's impeachment.
Amy Klobuchar - Has political experience (in the Senate), but almost no name recognition, no money, and arouses no passion. And apparently she treats her staff like shit.
Cory Booker - I thought he had already exited the race. From one of his supporters: "He is kinda quite right now but his message of big love has an appeal that could help our country heal. He is kind and good on the social front like Bern and Liz. Is honest he took big money funding in 2012 but not since and has traditional personal religious views. He is liked by everyone but remembered by none."
None of the Dem candidates have the Obama/Bill Clinton levels of charisma required to beat Trump. And the betting markets reflect it:
https://www.oddsshark.com/other/2020-usa-presidential-odds-futures
Joe "Drug War" Biden - Why vote for Trump-lite when you can vote for Trump?
Elizabeth "Dolores Umbridge" Warren - Even more hated than Hilary Clinton was.
Bernie Sanders - Supporters are passionate, but he's a socialist and doesn't have sufficient cross-party appeal. He's also several years past the median age of death for men, and already had a heart attack. He'll be lucky to survive the campaign, let alone his first term.
Michael Bloomberg - Has money, and extensive political and business experience. But no one's passionate about Bloomberg. It's unclear that he can appeal beyond his core of northeast Democratic supporters.
Pete Buttigieg - Served in the military, and seems competent and kind. But he's gay, has a terrible name, and hasn't held office higher than a mayor.
Andrew Yang - Supporters are passionate, but he seems competent and kind. However, he has no prior political experience, and little name recognition.
Tulsi Gabbard - Young, attractive, and a mainstream Democrat. She's served in the military, served in Congress, and is good on all the issues that Sanders is good on (war, civil liberties). However, she doesn't have money or name recognition. And although I think she would have the most cross-party appeal, she doesn't seem to be very good at winning over Democrats, many of whom were turned off by her vote during Trump's impeachment.
Amy Klobuchar - Has political experience (in the Senate), but almost no name recognition, no money, and arouses no passion. And apparently she treats her staff like shit.
Cory Booker - I thought he had already exited the race. From one of his supporters: "He is kinda quite right now but his message of big love has an appeal that could help our country heal. He is kind and good on the social front like Bern and Liz. Is honest he took big money funding in 2012 but not since and has traditional personal religious views. He is liked by everyone but remembered by none."
None of the Dem candidates have the Obama/Bill Clinton levels of charisma required to beat Trump. And the betting markets reflect it:
https://www.oddsshark.com/other/2020-usa-presidential-odds-futures