The race for the White House

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01:17

Nearly two dozen Democrats are off and running for the right to challenge a Republican president mired in investigations, a trade war with China and an approval rating hovering in the mid-40s.

Joe Biden, the former Vice President, also entered the Democratic race. Twenty-two Democrats are competing to challenge U.S. President Trump. With the first Democratic debate set for next month, this should be an exciting year in U.S. politics.

Joe Madison, a longtime civil rights activist and the host of a program on Sirius XM's Urban View Channel, believes Joe Biden is the most likely Democratic candidate to take on President Trump.

Julio Ricardo Varela, the digital media director at Futuro Media Group and the founder of LatinoRebels.com, thinks the most critical issue in the Democrats campaign is the immigration issue.

Amy Holmes, who is a political commentator and columnist for the Swiss weekly "Die Weltwoche," considers running for the presidency is a great way for politicians to create a national profile, which may explain why so many Democrats run for president.

Frank Sesno, the director of George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, says the progressive wing in the Democratic Party plays an essential part in the race.

Sesno explains that these 22 Democrats are the people who have something to say and are motivated by their ability to connect people through the digital world.

The U.S. flag. /VCG Photo

There is a precious opportunity for them to speak out because the Democratic Party is riding on a high tide of indignation and outrage over the presidency of Donald Trump. "But they are not all going to survive," says Sesno,"the debates will be held soon, and you can't get 22 people on the stage."

"Running for the presidency is a great way to raise your name ID and create a national profile," says Holmes. Lots of candidates hope the former vice president Biden slips up based on his own gaffes.

But Holmes thinks Biden is so far out in the front and the Democratic Party is still looking for the best candidate who will be able to take on President Trump.

Among this diverse group of Democratic Party candidates, Madison considers Biden to be the most likely one. "Because he has the experience in Congress and the Senate," he says. "Mr. Biden will bring the entire group together, and that's going to be a lot of voters."

In terms of Biden's track record for people to attack, Madison believes every politician has a track record, so that's not a problem for Biden.

Varela points out the immigration issue is one of the most significant issues in the race because Trump has already used it as a campaign issue.

Julián Castro, who is the only Mexican American in the race, spoke about a plan on immigration about a month ago. Kamala Harris, who has served as the junior United States Senator from California, talks a lot about immigration in her campaign.

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

"But no one talks about the person that actually presented the most comprehensive immigration plan," says Varela. "It's an uncomfortable truth that Democrats sometimes do not know what to do."

"Trump's record on immigration has caused a lot of consternation," says Madison, "what I'd like to see happen is let them have this spirited debate." Putting all the Democrat candidates' dispositions together is what Donald Trump has to run against.

Sesno thinks Mr. Biden and all the other candidates have to be careful about acknowledging their views. "But if they sound wishy-washy, they sound weak, Donald Trump is going to sweep in, he will show, again and again, he is like a boxer," he says, "the Democrats are in a very perilous place on the issue of immigration."

Amy indicates Elizabeth Warren has focused on her progressive policies, and she's been the most vocal about wanting to impeach President Trump. That strategy helps her to pull in more progressive voters.

Moreover, Sesno thinks Warren is the toughest candidate. But he believes Warren's decision of not going on Fox News was a mistake.

The other issue in the race is age. Both Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are in their 70s, and Pete Buttigieg is at the age of 37. Julio thinks Bernie Sanders, though he is 77 years old, is still getting support from Millennials. "Pete Buttigieg might be the shiny object right now," Varela says, "but where is his policy?"

"What really matters here is not the candidates' age, but their chronological behavior," Sesno says.

The progressive wing in the Democratic Party grows quickly. "They play a very important role because the dynamism they bring, the change they represent and the sentiment they tap into," says Sesno, "and it is frustrating for those in the middle."

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