Bernie Sanders 2020 Democratic Nominee Odds Worsening; Klobuchar Becoming Legitimate Candidate

• There’s been plenty of movement in the odds among 2020 Democratic Presidential candidates
• The odds on Bernie Sanders have grown longer
• Amy Klobuchar’s odds have improved dramatically

Is Bernie Sanders old news? Is Amy Klobuchar a legitimate candidate, or merely the flavor of the month?

The chase is on for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination, and as with the start of any race, there’s been plenty of jockeying for position.

The changes in the race are also evident in the movement among the candidates in the future books being offered on the competition.

2020 US Presidential Election Democratic Candidate Odds

Is Sanders a Victim of Bernie Burnout Syndrome?

In the 2016 Democratic race, Sanders was a wildcard hopeful who gained a foothold with young voters and was seen as the anti-establishment candidate. This time around, though, he seems like that guy who stayed at the party too long and doesn’t realize that everyone just wants him to leave.

The 2020 race already includes several Democratic options who, like Sanders, would be considered progressive candidates, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York, and the current frontrunner, Sen. Kamala Harris of California.

And it isn’t ageism, but a fact of life to bring up Sanders’ age (76) and that the current life expectancy for a man in the United States is 78. That means if Sanders were to gain the nomination and win the Presidency, there’s a 53% chance that he would die in office.

Remember too that he couldn’t beat Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee who couldn’t beat Donald Trump for President. Do you really think that merits a second kick at the can?

Does Klobuchar Carry Enough Clout?

One political pundit has referenced Klobuchar as the “queen of electability” and though she has yet to officially declare her candidacy for 2020, the rapid lowering of the odds on her chances of landing the Democratic nomination would seem to agree.

“… Amy Klobuchar, who seems possessed of the kind of common sense, adult-in-the-room moral clarity that feels in alarmingly short supply in our hyperpolarized political moment. “ All this and a sense of humor. #Klobuchar2020 https://t.co/5QHlwvRg1J

— Linda deCastrique (@Lindadec) January 22, 2019

The senior Senator from Minnesota, Klobuchar carried her last election in 2018 by 24.1 percent. By contrast, Clinton won the state in the 2016 Presidential election by a scant 1.5 percent. She’s considered personable, but Klobuchar can also carry a powerful presence, as Brett Kavanaugh discovered during his Supreme Court nomination hearing, losing his cool as Klobuchar grilled him with questions about his drinking.

Kavanuagh later apologized to Klobuchar for his tone.

Kamala Harris and Beto O’Rourke remain the frontrunners, but Klobuchar’s combination of likability, experience and Midwestern values, made her an interesting sleeper candidate. Don’t count her out.