The Case for Amy

The Democratic primary keeps shifting ground, and so do I.   Buffeted about as candidates rise and fall, I change my mind sometimes from one week to the next.  Here’s where I stand now.

Though I will actively support him or whoever wins the Democratic primary, Bernie Sanders is too far left for me.  His non-negotiable policies make him an easy target for Donald Trump, and I don’t think he’ll attract disaffected voters in the middle.  Elizabeth Warren, who became my choice early on as the candidate to forge a left and centrist coalition, stumbled as she struggled to defend Medicare for All and never recovered her footing.  Joe Biden, another one of my early preferences, doesn’t inspire confidence; he lacks fresh, quick thinking, and he’s rooted in the past.  Meanwhile, looming larger each day is a billionaire whose racist, sexist past repels me.

Michael Bloomberg made three stops in North Carolina on Thursday, when early voting began.  His sleek, posted signs at our nearby library are the only indications of the presidential race.  With ads that inspire viewers to reflect on the possibility of a renewed America, one not governed by a divisive and vengeful demagogue, he's hard to resist.  I’ve had several friends tell me this week that he’s the only candidate who can defeat Donald Trump.

Yet I resist.

Bloomberg’s rivals at the moment, those with centrist views similar to his own, are Pete Buttigieg, Tom Steyer, and Amy Klobuchar.  Regarding Mayor Pete, I didn’t have a good sense of the size of South Bend, Indiana, until I saw its population rank (according to NerdWallet).  It turns out that South Bend is smaller than High Point, Wilmington, Cary, Fayetteville, Winston-Salem, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Charlotte, NC.  This ranking made it clear to me: despite Buttigieg’s military service and wide-ranging intellect, he doesn’t have the experience to run this vast, unruly country.

Tom Steyer makes a lot of sense, and I agree with much of what he says.  I liked that he came to Durham and visited with residents of McDougald Terrace, unafraid to tackle the thorny issues of race, housing, health, and safety.  He lacks government experience, though, and I’d prefer someone who can take charge of Washington immediately. 

Which brings me to Amy Klobuchar, my current choice.  Representing Minnesota in the Senate since 2006, she leads her fellow senators in enacting legislation as a sponsor or co-sponsor.  Her policies are practical and focused on the needs of ordinary Americans.  She recognizes the crisis of aging in America, which I don’t hear other candidates discuss.  She has a strong history of tackling gun violence, and she’s identified numerous steps she’ll take to address climate change.  She’s been a leader in legislation to protect LGBTQ rights, and she understands the challenges of substance use and mental health.

Klobuchar is certainly as qualified for the job as Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders and more so than everyone else.  Yet nervous Democrats are looking to Michael Bloomberg.  It’s hard not to conclude that once again, we’re not ready to trust and elect a woman for our highest office.  When I first watched Senator Klobuchar at the debates, I admit that I didn’t think she had the gravitas for the job.  I now think she’s grown into it, into a definition of Commander in Chief as a woman.  She’s smart, she’s reasoned, she’s experienced, and she’s passionate.

I say give her a chance.