Elizabeth Warren is generating a lot of buzz about a possible presidential run in 2016. She is the candidate liberals have been pining for since Barack Obama abandoned them. Here are five reasons why Warren should run.
1. No one listens to Bernie Sanders
Seriously, who cares what Bernie Sanders has to say? The self-described socialist from Vermont is also contemplating a presidential run in 2016, but unless you are a regular viewer of The Ed Show on MSNBC, you probably don’t know who he is. Remember that filibuster he did? Me neither. Sanders and Warren would have essentially the same message—Wall Street is bad, corporations are evil—but Warren is the less obnoxious of the two.
2. Hillary Clinton is Wall Street’s candidate
Warren has already started taking shots at Clinton’s ties to Wall Street. Last week, Warren railed against a controversial provision to roll back a portion of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill. She singled out Citigroup, the financial firm primarily responsible for the provision, and Hillary Clinton’s largest donor over the course of her political career. Clinton and her Wall Street allies teamed up to crush Warren this time around, but liberal voters will presumably realize that they prefer a candidate who speaks out against Wall Street executives over a candidate who is paid to speak to them.
3. Someone has to challenge Joe Biden
Despite his poor standing in the polls, Biden remains the prohibitive frontrunner to win the nomination. Someone needs to challenge his coronation. Whoever else decides to run, Warren can add a much-needed liberal voice to the conversation. She can point out, for example, that some of your tax dollars go to fund the roads you drive on, as well as the inefficient public transportation systems you rely on to get to work. As a former Harvard professor, Warren can add a perspective that is too often ignored in the world of liberal politics, and set up a clear contrast with Biden’s "man of the people" shtick.
4. Youth factor
If Warren enters the race, she could be the youngest Democrat running. (She would be 67 on Election Day.) She is two years younger than Hillary, seven years younger than Biden, and eight years younger than Sanders. President Obama has said voters in 2016 will be looking for a "fresh start" and a "new car smell." He’s right, and Warren might be the best the party can muster. One potential downside is that Warren has only published one memoir to date, but there is plenty of time to change that.
5. She's got the passion
Elizabeth Warren is extremely passionate. Sometimes, she displays her passion by pointing at things. Hillary Clinton, by comparison, gives off an animatronic vibe. Warren’s fans are passionate, too, judging by this epic video, which makes the definitive case for why she should run: