Up Close, with Peter Sage: Eric Swalwell has a lot to like

Swalwell

Eric Swalwell: young but not too young, white male but woke, progressive but not socialist, experienced but still a new face.

And he looks great on TV.

He is the one we keep seeing on cable news, especially Rachel Maddow, for two years.

As of this date there are five white, young, male candidates for president. Eric Swalwell of California, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Tim Ryan of Ohio, Beto O'Rourke of Texas, and Pete Buttigieg of Indiana. Add Andrew Yang of New York City, a young, Asian entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Swalwell is a California progressive, and he has his niche. Compared to Moulton and Ryan, Swalwell is the one we know from cable news, and he is the progressive, not the one tacking to the center. Compared to Beto, Swalwell is the one who seems more adult, serious, and trustworthy. Compared with Mayor Pete, Swalwell is the heterosexual one with the more typical, unexceptional biography, who doesn't require a leap of faith. Compared with Yang, Swalwell is the one we have heard of.

All seem "young" compared with the rest of the candidates, and each present a generational message, done partly through the body language of their own age. A lot of voters seem to prefer youth, a fresh start, and pushing reset on the political game. Any of these six men would require voters to have made the decision that they have had enough of the political old guard. They are the "Press Reset" candidates.

Swalwell's manner, however, isn't youthful. It is square-jawed tough. He wears dark suits. He speaks forcefully. His father was a cop, and before being a US Representative, he was a prosecutor. He "reads" at first glance as a serious, alpha male guy. It means he shares with Moulton and Ryan the first-glance plausibility as the tough, new Commander in Chief.

Here, and on CNN, Fox, and more.

Swalwell has positioned himself politically with the liberal-progressive side of the party. He talks about going big and bold, something Democratic activists crave. He became the focus of the NRA and they put him on their cover. (This is not a compliment by them. He is a target.) Most Democrats will like that.

Swalwell generally holds the suite of positions one would expect of a Democrat who has stayed within the drift of political currents leading to the present:

Supports universal access to health care

Supports gun registration

Suports reproductive rights

Supports "comprehensive immigration reform"

Suports solar and wind over fossil fuels

Supports a carbon tax to address climate change

Opposes the 2017 tax bill

Opposes Citizen United interpretation of money as free speech

Opposes PAC money in campaigns and doesn't take it

Opposes Trump's flouting of presidential norms

Swalwell has a path to picking up support from voters who had preferred other "big" names, if and when their campaigns falter for some reason. He has his own case to make, and he is the safe backup. He doesn't carry the burden of Biden's age and gaffes; Bernie's age and reputation as extreme; Warren's suspected un-electability; Gellibrand's suspected problem with male voters; Harris's history with prosecutions, Beto's boyish "lightness"; Buttigieg's gayness, youth, and thin governmental resume; Moulton's and Ryan's moderation.

Candidates hope people post selfies.

Everyone has something to explain or overcome--but Swalwell not so much. He threads through the various perils--other than being white male, which some Democrats will consider disqualifies him for the top spot, but probably becomes an advantage for the VP spot, if the Nominee turns out to be female or a person of color.

He has a good "log cabin" origin story, hardscrabble youth with summer jobs, the son of working people.

Swalwell starts with some name recognition, having been repeatedly on cable news positioned as a Congressman. Nothing he said on Rachel Maddow will hurt him with Democrats.

Right now, Pete Buttigieg is the hot candidate, being gushed over in the media. Buttigieg is a "problem" candidate, with issues voters need to decide are OK. Maybe he can overcome them and be stronger because of it. The Buttigieg phenomenon may be a pathway to Swalwell because Buttigieg will simply seem like a bridge too far. But having flirted with Mayor Pete, voters may decide they do indeed want a fresh young guy, just not that young guy.

Swalwell could be ready to step in.

Or, maybe Swalwell will take off on his own. He has a strong case to make and he presents very well. He speaks clearly and forcefully, but does not spend the hour shouting, in the manner of Beto or Bernie, which makes him read as less passionate, but more reasonable and reliable.

Swalwell spoke about 30 people at his first gathering in New Hampshire since announcing his candidacy.

Here are some links to short video clips. Take a look:

Swalwell on Trump's misbehavior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skSOapnTUJ4

Swalwell on his hardworking youth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0KBL6858S0