Democrats are staring down their own problem of identity politics looking ahead to the 2020 presidential election — a well-known 70-something candidate vs. a younger one nobody could identify, Politico reported.
Though Democrats boast big names like Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, all in their 70s, what they don't have is that same brand appeal in someone 20 years younger.
"That person doesn't exist," former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean, 68, told Politico. "I have nothing against any of the people my age who will run, but I really do believe that if we're going to appeal to the younger generation, we've got to change the party."
Therein lies the dilemma — with whom?
Just one Democrat has announced his candidacy for 2020 — Maryland Rep. John Delaney. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is a darling of the Democratic party, but nobody could pick either guy out of a lineup.
Congressman Tim Ryan? Former Gov. Deval Patrick?
"If you look at the nominees for the two major parties going back to JFK, we never just pick somebody who no one has ever heard of," Bill Burton, a Democratic consultant told Politico. "I don't think it's likely that we pick somebody out of thin air to do it."
Compounding the problem of "who" is that the Democrats still haven't figured out their "what" yet either — what exactly is their vision for the American people other than pointing to the White House screaming about President Donald Trump?
They've already re-elected minority leader Nancy Pelosi, another 70-something that signaled it's business as usual for Democrats on Capitol Hill.
"The Democratic Party is in a turnaround. Anyone who doesn't admit that is not looking at the facts," Delaney told Politico. "Having some new people taking a crack at this, I think, is very valuable. National name ID is not necessarily what you have to solve for. What you have to solve for is to impress the voters in the key states."
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