White dudes and identity politics.
So I was at a restaurant and there was a work group there. I gathered they were from a public institution. I overheard them talking about the presidential candidates from the Dems.
They were mostly all-about Kamala Harris (which I am mostly on board with -- I like her stance on healthcare and on mary jane legalization, for instance). But they also were talking about Pete. And a man who appeared to be gay said: "I am all about Pete. I mean, he is white so that is a negative, but otherwise he is a really good candidate!"
I have also had other friends and colleagues say they would not vote for Bernie or Biden. They say something like: "I can't vote for another white guy. I just cannot do it."
A confidant of mine, a white guy, said: "I really wanted Beto to come out front and be THE candidate. But it is just not a good time to be a white guy. It is a real liability. So I will just vote for whoever the Dem candidate is."
Do you think that eventually this sort of attitude could turn otherwise liberal and progressive straight white men away from the Dems or perhaps just disaffect them from voting?
(Disclaimer: My dream ticket remains Kamala & Pete.)