This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
As the 2020 presidential election heats up, a lingering question remains: what to do with the legacy of Barack Obama, the former president who remains a beloved figure in the Democratic Party.
For some, like Elizabeth Bowens, a retired hospitality worker in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Obama's presidency is a nostalgic memory. 'Him and Michelle, that's a beautiful couple,' she said, expressing a sentiment shared by many.
However, not everyone is enamored with Obama's record. Critics like Matt Stoller, a fellow at the liberal Open Markets Institute, argue that Obama's policies did not adequately address pressing issues like climate change and economic inequality.
Stoller believes that Democrats are caught between their personal reverence for Obama and the need for a new direction in the party. 'The country faces existential crises that Obama did not resolve,' he said.
As the primary season unfolds, Democratic voters will face a choice between Obama's center-left policy framework and the agendas of liberal candidates. But for now, the focus remains on ousting President Trump.
For some, like Susan Chase, a retiree in Southport, N.C., candidates who attack Obama will not get their vote. However, Chase is also torn between her desire for something new and her need for a candidate who can beat Trump.
'Part of me says it's time for something really new and different,' she said, 'but then the other part says we've got to have somebody who can beat Trump.'
Published on September 20, 2019.
