Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Who should be the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee?
Position‹5 of 8›: Amy Klobuchar
Argument1 of 2›: Amy Klobuchar can reclaim the Midwest

The 2016 election showed that the Democratic party is losing Midwestern voters. Klobuchar can change this.

The argument

Klobuchar has sensibilities that both appeal to those in the Midwest and provide a contrast to Trump - she is calm and rational rather than ostentatious. She does not play Trump's game of name calling and anger: she is above it, without seeming elitist. Klobuchar even has policies aimed specifically at farmers, something lacking with other candidates. She is extremely popular in her home state of Minnesota, and this popularity will translate across the Midwest and win key states for the Democrats in 2020.

Context

Many of the Democrats' most shocking losses in 2016 were in the Midwest, most notably Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Premises

[P1]Klobuchar's calm, rational manner appeals to Midwestern voters and contrasts with Trump's name-calling without seeming elitist, and she offers farmer-focused policies other candidates lack. [P2] Her strong popularity in her home state of Minnesota is likely to translate across the Midwest, winning the key states Democrats need in 2020. [C] Therefore Amy Klobuchar, able to reclaim the Midwest, should be the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.

Counter-arguments

While Klobuchar may appeal to the Midwest, there are considerable sections of the American population that she does not appeal to. Her strategy focuses hugely on winning the 'white vote', without much appeal for people of colour, a vital voting bloc for Democrats. She also does not appeal to the further Left of the Democratic party who prefer candidates like Sanders or Warren.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] Winning the Midwest does not automatically win the election for Democrats: there are many other voting blocs that need to be appealed to.