So who is leading among the sizable list of potential candidates that Democrats hope to see take down Donald Trump in 2020? The results of a new Politico/Morning Consult poll isn’t quite as “woke” as you might think. In fact, none of the leading candidates are women, or minorities, and two out of the three meet the description of Democrats’ least favorite demographic: old white males (the third is a not-that-old white male).
The survey of 1,952 registered voters was conducted right after the “most important midterm elections in history” wrapped up, leaving us with a newly Democrat-controlled House but a still-Republican controlled Senate. Despite the changing scene in Washington, the poll offered some familiar results.
The Democratic frontrunner, according to Politico’s poll: old white guy Joe Biden, who managed to grab just over a quarter (26%) of the Democrats’ vote for who they’d most like to see facing off against Trump in two years. Biden has already twice-failed to win a presidential bid, back in 1988 and then 20 years later in 2008. As a consolation prize, he was handed the vice presidency by Barack Obama on his second try. After considering running in 2016, he ultimately opted out amid a family tragedy.
The runner-up is also not the freshest name on the list: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who isn’t even really a Democrat, and who also failed to win a presidential bid, and against the widely unpopular Hillary Clinton, no less. Sanders managed to get about a fifth of the votes (19%).
As Politico notes, both Biden and Sanders are septuagenarians: Biden would be 77 on election day should he manage to defeat Trump. Sanders would be 79. Should either win, they’d take the mantle from Trump as the oldest man to be elected president.
Coming in a distant third in Politico’s survey is the flavor of the month: middle-aged white guy Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who just failed to win a senatorial race against another would-be presidential nominee, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. O’Rourke, who’s been treated like a rock star by the press, earned 8% of the votes.
“Beto O’Rourke is emerging to be an outside contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination, outpacing other potential nominees,” said Morning Consult’s Vice President Tyler Sinclair, Politico reports.
After the three white men, and with none of them managing more than 5%, finally come some females and minorities. Fourth is Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who got 5% of the Democratic vote. Fifth is California Sen. Kamala Harris, who pulled in just 4%. Sixth is New Jersey’s “Spartacus,” Cory Booker, with just 3%. Seventh was former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, drawing just 2%.
No one else managed to get more than 2%, among them, the man who’s really seen his star fall after jumping the shark with his evidence-less Brett Kavanaugh accusations, “Creepy Porn Lawyer” Michael Avenatti. He pulled in zero percent of the vote. Also earning zero percent are former Attorney General Eric Holder and former Massachusetts Gov. Duval Patrick. Among those gaining just 1% are New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Related: First Democrat Officially Announces 2020 Presidential Bid. Trump’s Already Given Him A Nickname.