Hindsight 2020: January 2020

As of December 2, 2019, 972 candidates have filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for president. Here is the complete list. This number includes 296 Democrats, 148 Republicans, 44 Libertarians, and 19 Green Party candidates. Very few of them are on any of our ballots. Filing with the FEC is the only step to get on our state ballots.  Each state has specific requirements. Not many people have the resources to get on the ballots in all 50 states and the territories. So when you are watching a debate and are a little ticked off that a few candidates are not allowed, there are a lot more than you think. Even some major candidate won't appear on our ballots. Michael Bennet, Cory Booker and John Delaney will not appear on my home state, Vermont's, primary ballot so if one of my neighbors is reading this and want to vote for one of them, be prepared to write in.

In most states, the top four candidates in polling are Biden, Warren, Buttigieg and Sanders, but the fifth spot is up for grabs in a lot of them.  I have seen Yang, Gabbard, Klobuchar and Bloomberg in some of them. Once voting starts, it will be very interesting.

Here is this month's debate that had only seven candidates:

Impeachment: You need only a majority to set the rules of the impeachment so the Republican moderates may control what the Senate trial looks like. Look to Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.

Dropping Out:
Joe Sestak

Our Field:
Julian Castro released his plan to end hunger in America.

Tulsi Gabbard released a resolution to withdraw troops from Syrian oil fields.She didn't vote for impeachment so she is dead to me.

Elizabeth Warren wrote an Op Ed about the AIDS crisis for CNN. New York Times "The Daily" podcast interviewed her. She released plans to protect the oceans and to fight global corruption.

Joe Biden wrote a piece on NATO for Medium. He also released his tax plan, his immigration plan and his gun safety plan.

Tom Steyer, a well-know Trump hater, used his millions to buy the domain KeepAmericaGreat.com to sell "TRUMP is a Fraud and a Failure" bumper stickers. He released a proposal to invest $125 billion in historically black colleges.

Mike Bloomberg released his plan for criminal justice and his gun violence platform.

Amy Klobuchar released her plan for national service.

Bernie Sanders released his plan to expand broadband access.

Pete Buttigieg released an education and childcare platform and an immigration platform.

Michael Bennet appeared on Boston's "Coffee with the Candidate". He proposed, along with Mitt Romney, a child tax credit.

Cory Booker talked about gun control on KUNR. He issued an education plan and proposed a bill for farm system reforms.

Andre Yang introduced a healthcare plan. He appeared on PBS News Hour.

Power Rankings:

I count 14 candidates. I am still sticking with Amy. She has the political chops and the experience to not only win but to be an excellent president. 

I have moved Bloomberg up because it seems clear, he could destroy Trump in a general election and yes, he was a decent mayor. 

I have to admit that the biggest thing I don't like about Bernie Sanders is not him but his supports. They are very inflexible and seem like they may pull the same act they did in 2016 ... just not voting because their candidate is out of it. If they would have showed up for Hillary in Ohio, Pennsylvania or Michigan, we wouldn't be in this mess. It doesn't seem like they have learned anything and may do the same in 2020. 

One positive about Bernie. When it comes to second choices, he is the most popular candidate.  So as other candidates start dropping out, he will move up faster than others. This is big. I love Bernie, even though many of his supporters are lunatics. I moved him up and moved mayor Pete down a little.  He's been getting beaten up lately and not handling it that well.

Klobuchar

Sanders

Warren

Buttigieg

Biden

Booker

Yang

Bloomberg

Delaney

Castro

Patrick

(I probably won't vote if the people below get the nomination)

Gabbard

Steyers

Williamson