The Contenders

Here is how last Friday’s Washington Post Pundit Power Poll ranked candidates in the race to secure the Democratic presidential nomination:

• Biden
• Harris
• Sanders
• O’Rourke
• Booker
• Klobuchar
• Warren
• Buttigieg
• Hickenlooper
• Bennett

I’ve ruled out Biden and Sanders for age and other reasons, O’Rourke for inexperience and lack of self-discipline and rigor in his thinking, Buttigieg for inexperience, Hickenlooper primarily for lack of gravitas, and Bennett, at least temporarily, because of lack of clarity as to his positions. I downgraded Klobuchar because of her recently disclosed sub-optimum behavior as a prosecutor and in managing her staff. I’ve upgraded Harris because she has recently exhibited political acumen and articulated several sound and imaginative policy positions. The result is my own power poll ranking:

• Harris
• Warren
• Booker
• Klobuchar

My preferences may shift more than once in the months ahead.