With the field game, here are 8 questions for Democrats: NPR

Now that the 2020 Democratic field is pretty much settled (with the exception of a last-minute offer from Stacey Abrams or John Kerry) with former Vice President Joe Biden, let's examine what we have learned so far on the ground and what to watch for. to go from the front:

1. Where does the name identification go? Biden is a huge rock in the lake and its entry into the presidential campaign has repercussions on the primary field. Until here, he leads the pack. This is largely because people know the former vice president and recognize his name.

It is true that there are many recent examples of early and washed-out candidates – Jeb (!) Bush in 2016, Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani in 2008, and before that, Jerry Brown in 1992 and Gary Hart in 1988. But so there are others who have driven from the beginning and have been nominated, even though it 's been a long slugfest: Hillary Clinton in 2016, Mitt Romney in 2012, Al Gore and George W. Bush in 2000, for example.

2. It's there for Biden now, but can he prove himself? The overcrowded terrain on the left gives Biden an opportunity. This will depend largely on Biden's ability to do four things: stay disciplined, respond fully to critics, raise funds and show that he has the stamina to win. One advantage that it has, however, is that the democratic base remains love Joe Biden. Equestrian elections are ephemeral, but how do people feel on the candidates is less fleeting. And Biden is also at the top of the list in terms of the number of people in favor: an average of 74% of Democratic voters say they like it, while only 15% face it.

3. Can Bernie Sanders extend beyond his loyal base? Until now, the Vermont Senator has shown that he would be a force in the Democratic primary and would probably have the necessary funds in the long run. The money, for him, will not be a concern as it will be for Biden. We know who the riding of Sanders is; they like it and it's deeply rooted. The question remains: can the self-proclaimed Socialist Democrat (the only candidate among the 20 to identify with the word "S") go beyond this base and prove to other pragmatic Democrat voters that he can defeat Donald Trump – the only thing they really seem to want.

4. Does Pete Buttigieg keep up the momentum? The mayor of 37-year-old South Bend, 37, saw a star spin. Since coming to the national scene, Pete Buttigieg has impressed many base members with his versatility, calm, confident attitude and vision. This led to an increase in the name ID, a sharp increase in favorability ratings and … money.

He has a limited campaign organization that is not yet built for the long term – and he is still not as well known as many others in the race. Although it is appreciated by party followers with an average of 42% positives and 8% negatives, it means that half still does not have an opinion or does not know who it is. is. He will need to employ staff and continue to bring in money so he can meet as many voters as possible to make himself better known, especially now that the ground has become a bit more trampled.

5. Does Elizabeth Warren find her way? The Senator from Massachusetts has too much time to find her way. Warren is considered by many to have the most detailed plans and some of the best ideas. But she is lagging behind in fundraising and polls, and it 's hard to maintain with the kind of heavy campaign operation she' s built, paying, for example, 1 $ 2 million for salaried staff.

She is a strong debater and the strength of her ideas can break into a debate, but she fights with others in the progressive and popular space. This is probably in part the reason why Warren distinguished himself from the field of Democrats by calling for the removal of President Trump immediately after the publication of Mueller's partially expunged report. And remember: before Sanders ran in 2016, it was she who attracted progressive movements. Sanders and, to a lesser extent, Beto O 'Rourke and Buttiegieg, are considered candidates for the movement.

6. Is Beto O 'Rourke marginalized or finding his way? Behind the scenes, Sanders' campaign and the groups that help him have targeted O & # Rourke. After all, the former Texas congressman is comparable to Sanders, but a little behind in terms of fundraising at the grassroots level. And relatives of Sanders have asserted that O 'Rourke was not so progressive (his biggest sin: giving President Obama an accelerated authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP).

He still has some factor of "that", but Buttigieg had the loss gain of O 'Rourke, who occupies a similar space in the fight for the Democratic nomination. There have been questions about O'Rourke's experience and about the depth of her plans and ideas. He has to show that he is a presidential material and a heavyweight in debates that should not be overshadowed.

7. Can Kamala Harris overload her candidacy and push Biden back to South Carolina? the idea Harris is a Democratic Elector – a black woman and a former attorney in response to Donald Trump. But until now, the reality has been less than convincing. The California senator has been cautious as a candidate, which may have left room for other candidates to attract attention in spaces she could have possessed.

She is a clear thinker and has attracted attention for her interrogation of Brett Kavanaugh at her confirmation hearings in 2018. She is going to need her calmness and accuracy to stand out in debates. One thing she has, is money. Harris raised $ 12 million in the first quarter and if she manages to keep her California donor base, she could stay there for a long time. But Harris must strengthen his support in the first primary states. South Carolina, the first primary with a predominantly black electorate, plays a key role, but Biden complicates this calculation.

8. Can others have a moment of escape? There are a dozen other candidates declared in the race, not mentioned above. They understand the meaning. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Cory Booker of New Jersey; Govs. Jay Inslee of Washington and John Hickenlooper of Colorado; MPs like Eric Swalwell, Seth Moulton and Tim Ryan. And there are strangers like the startup investor in technology, Andrew Yang, and the new age author, Marianne Williamson.

Some focus on issues that hope to stand out, such as Inslee on climate change or Swalwell on gun safety. They can all qualify for the first democratic primary debate sanctioned in June in Miami, and they will need a propitious moment to attract the deserved attention of the media and ignite a chasm with the base to continue in the long run.