Remember how with that long list of GOP candidates, we ended up with Trump? (McCain, Ron Paul)

[Clarallel]

Even though there were people clearly far more qualified?

It would be funny if Democrats had fallen into that same trap and ended up with Marianne Williamson.

[Westie15]

And we ended up with a great president

[travis t]

It is still strange to me that of those 17 that ran, Trump came out the nominee. I know quite a few Republicans who say they voted for him but he was their 17th choice out of 17.

It seems like the D field has already winnowed down to 3, which if memory serves happened much quicker than the process for Republicans in 2015-16. Hence it is a much different dynamic, barring unforeseen developments, such as (say) Biden drops out. If that happens, some of the also-rans could maybe climb back into the clown car.

[RowingFiend]

It will never happen. The lying dishonest Democrats rig their primary and Republicans don't.

[Sydney123]

Now there’s a ton of Democratic hopefuls...and it’s looking like the same thing is going to happen in 2020. Lol

[maf763]

Originally Posted by RowingFiend

It will never happen. The lying dishonest Democrats rig their primary and Republicans don't.

You mean the party that is cancelling state primaries to protect the president?

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by RowingFiend

It will never happen. The lying dishonest Democrats rig their primary and Republicans don't.

Why is empty name calling necessary? This added nothing to the discussion.

[Rakin]

Trump was the only one that could have beat Hillary.

And he was exactly want the millions of Walmart Deplorables wanted after 8 years of corrupt race baiting Obama.

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by Clarallel

Even though there were people clearly far more qualified?

It would be funny if Democrats had fallen into that same trap and ended up with Marianne Williamson.

and...there was a long list from the DNC in the beginning too.... and you guys chose Hitlery??? You guys actually ran the worst possible candidate

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by workingclasshero

and...there was a long list from the DNC in the beginning too.... and you guys chose Hitlery??? You guys actually ran the worst possible candidate

No. The Democratic list of contenders wasn't long at all.
At first, it was Clinton, O'Malley, Chafee, Webb, and Lessig. That's less than the average number of starters for either party. Bernie entered the race after 3 had already quit.

Of those early 3, only O'Malley had any name recognition. That's largely why Clinton settled in as the top contender so early and so soon.

It was a lot like the GOP's situation in 2008. In 2007, their field was small, and McCain had a lot of name recognition. By early 2008, McCain was the only guy left in the field.

Only Romney was as well known, possibly. Huckabee wasn't back then, and neither was Ron Paul. Once they dropped out, McCain had the field to himself, even when Paul continued. Paul was like Bernie in 2016.