The “Who is running in 2020?” tea leaves thread, Part 3

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Beto is the biggest attention whore I’ve ever witnessed in politics, Trump aside.

I don't get the point in dragging it out if he's decided to run. There's no benefit in waiting since he's lost so much support from a few months ago.

I suppose its the same reason why John McCain always made himself the deciding vote.

[beaver2.0]

who would even vote from him

Eric Swalwell.

Ok we've got one

If you're referring to me then no.  I was simply saying that Eric Swalwell might get a singular vote out of himself.  Maybe.

I know I was counting his vote not yours

Well I'm not even entirely sure you should count it this early.  We never know how he might vote.

[Mr. Morden]

The Hill says that a "senior Democratic lawmaker" told them that he had a phone convo with Biden, who told the lawmaker that he was running, and asked for an endorsement:

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/433659-exclusive-biden-to-run-for-white-house-says-dem-lawmaker

Former Vice President Joe Biden will run for president in 2020, a senior Democratic lawmaker told The Hill on Tuesday, a move that will shake up the crowded Democratic primary field and make him the clear front-runner for his party’s nomination against President Trump.

“I’m giving it a shot,” Biden said matter-of-factly during a phone call with a House Democratic lawmaker within the past week — a conversation the congressman recounted to The Hill and interpreted as a sure sign that Biden will run in 2020.

In the brief phone call, the former vice president asked if he could bounce some campaign strategy ideas off the lawmaker and invited the lawmaker to sit down with him in person in the near future. Biden also said he hoped to have the lawmaker’s support, something the lawmaker did not commit to.

Biden responded that there was no harm if they keep talking, according to the lawmaker who spoke to The Hill on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the phone conversation.

However:

Biden spokesman Bill Russo refuted the idea that the former vice president is absolutely running: “He has not made a final decision. No change.”
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One source familiar with Biden’s thinking says it’s all part of the former vice president’s mission “to check all boxes” before he officially announces he’s running.

“He’s basically in. He’s just running the traps, as he says,” the source said.

[Mr. Morden]

https://twitter.com/chelseaadelaine/status/1105489509997785088

[Mr. Morden]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/12/politics/beto-orourke-2020-campaign/index.html

Former US Rep. Beto O'Rourke is ready to "push the button" to launch his presidential campaign, with the announcement expected to first come on social media, a source familiar with his plans told CNN.

Aware that the 2020 Democratic primary is quickly taking shape, O'Rourke is set to announce his candidacy this week, rather than launching an exploratory committee.

O'Rourke is in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, this week ahead of his first trip to Iowa on Saturday. On Monday, in a short video recorded outside his house, he wore a University of Northern Iowa cap as he urged students at the school to vote in the Democratic candidate in a state Senate special election.

[Mr. Morden]

https://twitter.com/GarrettHaake/status/1105628423626637314

If he's leaving for Iowa as early as Thursday, then I wonder if he'll announce as early as tomorrow?  (Or alternatively, in the early hours of Thursday, before getting on a plane for Iowa?)

[Mr. Morden]

Moulton’s trip to South Carolina next week was already mentioned in this thread, but looks like he’ll also be traveling to New Hampshire on Saturday:

https://www.masslive.com/politics/2019/03/us-rep-seth-moulton-to-visit-new-hampshire-south-carolina-amid-2020-speculation.html

In other Moulton news, he’s come out in favor of abolishing both the electoral college and the filibuster:

https://www.masslive.com/politics/2019/03/us-rep-seth-moulton-wants-to-abolish-the-electoral-college-senate-filibuster.html

Meanwhile, Tim Ryan says that Sherrod Brown’s decision not to run for president has made Ryan more likely to do so:

https://radio.wosu.org/post/rep-tim-ryan-considering-joining-2020-presidential-race#stream/0

“I’m looking very, very closely at it,” Ryan said. “When Sherrod Brown decided not to run, I started to look a little closer at it. Because I felt like Sherrod was talking about the issues many of us were concerned about.”

[Skye]

https://twitter.com/NewDay/status/1105793532642488322

!!!

[Roll Roons]

https://twitter.com/NewDay/status/1105793532642488322

!!!

Ok, for a second I thought that said COONS was about to get in

[PaperKooper]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/13/politics/florida-mayor-wayne-messam-2020-committee

Wayne Messam launched an exploratory committee. 

[Mr. Morden]

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/13/beto-orourke-iowa-1220465

Beto O’Rourke has begun quietly reaching out to state Democrats in advance of his first trip to Iowa as a presumptive presidential candidate, personally calling high-profile figures in Iowa, including former Gov. Tom Vilsack, according to two sources familiar with his calls.

O’Rourke is expected to arrive in Iowa on Thursday, where he will be assisted by Norm Sterzenbach, a former executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party who recently began organizing O’Rourke’s trip.
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For O’Rourke, Sterzenbach represents a significant acquisition of talent. Starting far later than most other top-tier Democrats, O’Rourke was widely considered to be at a disadvantage in staffing and organization in early primary states.

Sterzenbach is sometimes referred to as “Mr. Caucus” in Iowa for his deep knowledge of caucus math and mechanics. He most recently worked as a consultant to the state party as it prepares to make some of the most significant changes to the caucuses in decades.

[Mr. Morden]

https://twitter.com/PatrickSvitek/status/1105921161509158912

[Rookie Yinzer]

[Mr. Morden]

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/433949-orourke-strongly-signals-hes-entering-dem-primary-in-vanity-fair-interview

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) strongly signaled that he is preparing to enter the Democratic 2020 presidential primary in a new Vanity Fair interview released Wednesday.

“I want to be in it,” O’Rourke said in an interview for the April magazine cover. “Man, I’m just born to be in it, and want to do everything I humanly can for this country at this moment.”
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"You can probably tell that I want to run,” he told Vanity Fair. “I do. I think I’d be good at it.”

O’Rourke called the current political climate the “fight of our lives, not the fight-of-my-political life kind of crap.”
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The progressive star told Vanity Fair that he’s not “as concerned” anymore about a presidential campaign having a negative impact on his family.

His 10-year-old daughter, Molly, said she wants to live in the White House.

“I only want you to run if you’re gonna win,” his eldest son, 12-year-old Ulysses, said.

[TarHeelDem]

https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1105974464892801027

[Mr. Morden]

Moulton headed to Iowa on March 29:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/03/13/iowa-caucus-2020-seth-moulton-travel-iowa-he-considers-presidential-run-veterans-university-of-iowa/3155846002/

de Blasio will be in New Hampshire this weekend:

https://www.insidesources.com/bill-de-blasio-bringing-his-toilet-bowl-politics-to-new-hampshire/

He also says that a run for president wouldn't prompt him to resign as mayor:

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-deblasio-presidential-run-resign-20190313-story.html

[Sestak]

Moulton headed to Iowa on March 29:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/03/13/iowa-caucus-2020-seth-moulton-travel-iowa-he-considers-presidential-run-veterans-university-of-iowa/3155846002/

de Blasio will be in New Hampshire this weekend:

https://www.insidesources.com/bill-de-blasio-bringing-his-toilet-bowl-politics-to-new-hampshire/

He also says that a run for president wouldn't prompt him to resign as mayor:

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-deblasio-presidential-run-resign-20190313-story.html

When will these guys (and Swalwell too) get a clue?

[Rookie Yinzer]

Once Jail ‘Em Joe gets in the race will be set. These nobodies need to just take their stuff and go home.

[Mr. Morden]

Ryan reportedly talking about a presidential run with his family, and says decision in “the next few weeks”:

https://businessjournaldaily.com/ryan-presidential-decision-coming-few-weeks/

Appearing on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront” to discuss the college admissions scandal, Ryan, D-13 Ohio, said he was looking “very closely” at a 2020 bid.

“We’re getting there,” he told host Erin Burnett. “I think the next few weeks we’re going to make a decision one way or the other.”

Ryan, who has visited early primary states and is preparing to make several stops in the industrial Midwest next week, is still discussing a potential run with his family and will make a decision in the coming weeks, communications director Michael Zetts affirmed.

Abrams:

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/abrams-says-she-ll-decide-by-april-if-she-ll-run-for-president/929968396

"Are you considering a run for president in 2020?" Elliot asked Abrams.

"Everything is on the table, including a run for the presidency," Abrams responded. 
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Abrams said she’ll make her decision by April if she’ll run for Senate. She said it's the first decision she has to make.

"In part, because, I think it's important that I do run. I need to start working for it, and if i’m not, I've got to leave enough time for whoever is going to stand for this office to have time build their capacity," Abrams said.

That’s somewhat weird phrasing.  Almost suggesting that she’ll first make a binary choice of Senate or not, and then think about other races, including the presidency, after that.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

I thought at first it was Paul Ryan. I was shocked. Anyway, I am surprised that Ryan is still considering a run.

[Mr. Morden]

Abrams met with Biden today:

https://www.apnews.com/0f2e21e505ea4eb8bbcd1b2ded9c2b76

Abrams told the AP that she’s sticking to her previous commitment to announce her Senate plans in early April.

She said she’s had a series of conversations with other current and former elected officials about her options, with a key question being the practical ability of a senator to make a difference. Biden spent 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate before becoming vice president in 2009.

“My objective is to make sure I want to do that job. ... I’d not thought about the Senate before,” she said, an allusion to her still-strong ambition to be governor after already having served as minority leader in the state House.

[Mr. Morden]

Bullock reiterates that while he might run for president, he has no interest in a run for Senate:

https://www.montanafreepress.org/mt-lowdown-podcast-gov-steve-bullock-looks-back-on-his-political-career-discusses-legislative-priorities-and-discusses-2020/

Bullock acknowledged that some in his party have urged him to challenge Daines, but he thinks there are other Democrats who could take that seat. Besides, he says, he doesn’t want that job.   

“I’ve expressed all along [that] I just don’t have an interest in running for U.S. Senate,” Bullock said. “I think that my skill set, and what I’ve done, I just wouldn’t enjoy it, so I’d ruled it out.”

[Mr. Morden]

Bullock headed to NH on March 22-23:

https://www.wmur.com/article/montana-gov-steve-bullock-to-return-to-nh/26777464

[Progressive Pessimist]

Bullock reiterates that while he might run for president, he has no interest in a run for Senate:

https://www.montanafreepress.org/mt-lowdown-podcast-gov-steve-bullock-looks-back-on-his-political-career-discusses-legislative-priorities-and-discusses-2020/

Bullock acknowledged that some in his party have urged him to challenge Daines, but he thinks there are other Democrats who could take that seat. Besides, he says, he doesn’t want that job.   

“I’ve expressed all along [that] I just don’t have an interest in running for U.S. Senate,” Bullock said. “I think that my skill set, and what I’ve done, I just wouldn’t enjoy it, so I’d ruled it out.”

Damn...Democrats really could have used another potential pickup opportunity.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Bullock reiterates that while he might run for president, he has no interest in a run for Senate:

https://www.montanafreepress.org/mt-lowdown-podcast-gov-steve-bullock-looks-back-on-his-political-career-discusses-legislative-priorities-and-discusses-2020/

Bullock acknowledged that some in his party have urged him to challenge Daines, but he thinks there are other Democrats who could take that seat. Besides, he says, he doesn’t want that job.   

“I’ve expressed all along [that] I just don’t have an interest in running for U.S. Senate,” Bullock said. “I think that my skill set, and what I’ve done, I just wouldn’t enjoy it, so I’d ruled it out.”

Damn...Democrats really could have used another potential pickup opportunity.

And his odds in the Presidential primary are so bad that he'd have a much better chance of becoming Senator than President.