Is the Democratic Party in tune with America? Will his supporters choose a candidate who is sufficiently rallying to compete with the outgoing Donald Trump, who remains very popular with deep America? At first glance, one might wonder, after the results of the New Hampshire primary, which is usually the one where the final duel of the great summer convention takes shape (Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton in 2008, Clinton -Sanders in 2016).
However, with Bernie Sanders (25.7% of the votes), a socialist in the land of capitalism, ahead of Pete Buttigieg (24.4%), a small local elected representative of the Midwest unknown not long ago, married with his companion, the Democratic voters are counting, for the moment, on candidates with a rather divisive profile. While the competitor with the a priori most presidential stature, Joe Biden (8.4%), ex-vice-president of Barack Obama, is in the cabbages. Trump, with a healthy economy, reveled in the show, mocking his competitors on Twitter.
"The word socialist creases the ears of many Americans"
Disconnected, the American left? "It's true that the word socialist creases the ears of many Americans," admits Steve, a Democratic voter. But Sanders is not just about this label. "
"The comparison often made with the leftist candidate McGovern crushed by Nixon in 1972 does not hold, says historian François Durpaire (Editor's note: author notably of" History of the United States ", PUF, collection" Que sais-je? " 2016) , member of the BONHEUR laboratory at CYCergy-Paris University. Sanders is more in tune with society, especially young people with its green new deal (Editor's note: green pact). Its flagship health insurance proposal meets the number 1 concern of Democratic voters ... and, beyond that, of many independent voters, this decisive soft stomach in the American presidential elections. With his wage measures, he can win back the white worker who voted for Trump four years ago. "
Pete Buttigieg, 38, an unexpected winner of the inaugural Iowa primary, positions himself in the center. "He reminds Obama, moderate, or Macron, for the generational break, the man who launches into the race without being invited", gauge Durpaire. "He is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, notes an expatriate democrat, while Bush Jr and Trump, them, had paraded during the time of Vietnam". Buttigieg, homosexual claimed, would he risk being rejected by traditionalist and puritan America? "This is the Trump electorate, who will vote Trump anyway and never for the pro-LGBT democratic party, pro-minorities, pro-legalization of cannabis ..." minimizes Steve.
Joe Biden could throw in the towel
François Durpaire does not see it as an obstacle in a country where opinion is largely pro-gay marriage: "The mass of independents, undecided, is not the most conservative on moral, family values, etc. Besides, hadn't it been claimed when Obama was leading in the polls that the Americans, in the secrecy of the voting booth, would never elect a black president? "
As for Joe Biden - who could throw in the towel if he does not rebound in the next primaries, South Carolina in particular - he would, on the contrary, be the ideal opponent for Trump. "Biden is the establishment," admits Steve. He was already a candidate in the 1980s, he does not embody change. "
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The race for the primary is still long, barely 150 delegates will have been designated at the end of February (Editor's note: each delegate is mandated to elect a candidate, it takes 1991 to win) , and there are nine candidates remaining. Including another billionaire, the New York magnate Michael Bloomberg, who will enter the track during the famous "super-Tuesday" - Tuesday, March 3 - where 1357 delegates will be appointed in 15 states.