2016 Postmortem

Midwestern Democrat

(927 posts)

27. Republican self-destruction in primaries was hardly a new phenomenon.

Tue Dec 20, 2016, 09:05 AM

Dec 2016

They flirted with it in 2012 when multiple un-electable candidates traded the polling lead before they finally bowed to reality and nominated Romney. They threw away at least three guaranteed Senate seats (Indiana, Delaware, Nevada) in past cycles by nominating the worst candidate possible. I don't think there's any doubt that Bush, Kasich, or Rubio would have been much more formidable candidates than Trump - all of them would have had the full support of their party; would have had far more money; would have had far better campaign operations. I think 3 million Gary Johnson voters (his increase between 2012 and 2016) would have voted for these guys. My own guess - these three men all would have won the national popular vote, would have won all the Trump states (with the possible exception of Michigan), and probably would have also won NH, MN, VA, CO, and NV.

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"Donald Trump won because Hillary was such a terrible candidate". [View all] kentuck Dec 2016 OP

And if the "terrible candidate" actually received more votes, guillaumeb Dec 2016 #1

And she's head by almost 3 million votes La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #2

Which doesn't count under the electoral college. LisaL Dec 2016 #34

Trump did the same thing in the republican primary that he did in the general election mtnsnake Dec 2016 #3

You know there's two guys who never bought that pack of lies... dionysus Dec 2016 #18

She won all the debates and had a great convention. But the fake email scandal was devastating. StevieM Dec 2016 #4

I also believe Comey cost us the election. LisaL Dec 2016 #35

donnie won first and foremost because the horrendous media. unblock Dec 2016 #5

You know what else didn't help? The idea that election was "in the bag." LisaL Dec 2016 #36

He took down Jeb HoneyBadger Dec 2016 #6

Don't forget - the RNC was hacked by Russian intelligence. So were individual candidates. I often BlueCaliDem Dec 2016 #9

So Kasich is the only one with no Russian oppo file? HoneyBadger Dec 2016 #12

Could be. OR he really DGAF. eom BlueCaliDem Dec 2016 #17

No, Trump won because Clinton not only had to run against Trump but had to fight the media, Alekzander Dec 2016 #7

+1 oasis Dec 2016 #22

The media was able to present Trump as a political outsider running against the corrupt jalan48 Dec 2016 #8

He didnt win anything libtodeath Dec 2016 #10

Well yeah melman Dec 2016 #11

I am going to punch anyone Emilybemily Dec 2016 #13

Trump won because of many reasons. BigBoss26 Dec 2016 #14

Absolutely. randome Dec 2016 #15

It was mostly Comey, voter suppression and Russia and HRC isn't perfect but doesn't bear the onus uponit7771 Dec 2016 #21

There was not a better candidate out there Generic Brad Dec 2016 #16

Not really. Kentonio Dec 2016 #30

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2016 #38

"Both of the party's nominated the only person the other side could beat" Axolotls Dec 2016 #19

Comey, Voter suppression, Russia... !!!! uponit7771 Dec 2016 #20

"Donald Trump won because the KGB hacked our democracy and committed an ACT OF WAR" LaydeeBug Dec 2016 #23

Fuck this shit. (nt) Paladin Dec 2016 #24

I don't think Hillary was a terrible candidate. PragmaticLiberal Dec 2016 #25

Trump was a "better campaigner" because he was willing to say ANYTHING emulatorloo Dec 2016 #28

She lost because she's a terrible campaigner. Exilednight Dec 2016 #26

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2016 #39

tell me Hillary's ecomomic message in 3 to 5 words. Exilednight Dec 2016 #41

Republican self-destruction in primaries was hardly a new phenomenon. Midwestern Democrat Dec 2016 #27

Democrats failed to recognize 2016 was a change election even with Obama being popular. geek tragedy Dec 2016 #29

she wasn't a terrrible candidate but she was a terrible okieinpain Dec 2016 #31

and don't let me forget the deal okieinpain Dec 2016 #32

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2016 #40

Well, lets face it. She had high negatives (due to years and years of republicans going after her) LisaL Dec 2016 #33

just numbers djsunyc Dec 2016 #37

The thing is that Hillary Clinton almost won in a landslide andym Dec 2016 #42