The “Who is running in 2024?” tea leaves thread

[NewYorkExpress]

David Axelrod takes the knives out on Biden, says his age would be a liabilty should he run for a second term.

David Axelrod, chief strategist for former President Obama’s two winning presidential campaigns, told the New York Times in an interview that President Biden's age would be a liability if he runs for a second term in 2024.

Is this is a sign that Obama does not want Biden to run again?

[NewYorkExpress]

Hillary Clinton says a 2024 presidential run by her is “out of the question”:

https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-2024-presidential-campaign-biden-democrats-2022-6

While speaking with the Financial Times, the former first lady and US senator said that she expected President Joe Biden to stand for reelection in two years. When asked if she could view herself launching a campaign — after unsuccessfully challenging Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2008 and losing the general election to Donald Trump in 2016 — Clinton quickly waved off such a proposition.

"No, out of the question," she said.

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders was in Iowa on Friday to support striking UAW workers:

https://www.thehawkeye.com/story/news/2022/06/19/case-new-holland-strikers-react-bernie-sanders-burlington-iowa-visit/7622573001/

I'm starting to think that if Biden doesn't run for whatever reason, Bernie gives it one last shot.

Bernie really should step aside and let a younger member of his wing of the party, like AOC run instead.

[NewYorkExpress]

Trump not ruling out running on a ticket with DeSantis as VP.

Former President Trump isn’t ruling out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as a running mate in a potential 2024 White House bid.

Asked in an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty on Thursday about the possibility of a Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024, Trump noted that he has a good relationship with the Florida governor before taking credit for his political success.


“Well, I get along with him,” Trump said. “I was very responsible for his success, because I endorsed him and he went up like a rocket ship.”

[NewYorkExpress]

Trump not ruling out running on a ticket with DeSantis as VP.

Former President Trump isn’t ruling out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as a running mate in a potential 2024 White House bid.

Asked in an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty on Thursday about the possibility of a Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024, Trump noted that he has a good relationship with the Florida governor before taking credit for his political success.


“Well, I get along with him,” Trump said. “I was very responsible for his success, because I endorsed him and he went up like a rocket ship.”

Clearly a move to put down DeSantis, saying "he would be good as my subservient #2".

Never mind the fact if he picked DeSantis, he'd be surrendering Florida's electoral votes, which he really can't afford, given the 2024 Presidential election probably will be close.

[NewYorkExpress]

Trump not ruling out running on a ticket with DeSantis as VP.

Former President Trump isn’t ruling out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as a running mate in a potential 2024 White House bid.

Asked in an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty on Thursday about the possibility of a Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024, Trump noted that he has a good relationship with the Florida governor before taking credit for his political success.


“Well, I get along with him,” Trump said. “I was very responsible for his success, because I endorsed him and he went up like a rocket ship.”

Clearly a move to put down DeSantis, saying "he would be good as my subservient #2".

Never mind the fact if he picked DeSantis, he'd be surrendering Florida's electoral votes, which he really can't afford, given the 2024 Presidential election probably will be close.

He could always do a Cheney and move back to New York.

Trump left New York because he didn't want to live there because of it's left wing policies.

I doubt Wyoming's politics were why Dick Cheney left.

[NewYorkExpress]

Hillary Clinton on 2024:

https://www.foxnews.com/media/cbs-host-calls-out-hillary-clinton-cant-imagine-2024-run-thats-not-no

During an appearance on "CBS Mornings," the former presidential candidate was asked by co-host Gayle King if there was "any scenario" in which she thought about jumping back into the "day to day" of politics. 

"No… but I miss it. I miss it," Clinton replied, before King interjected. 

"There’s no scenario in 2024 that you’d even remotely consider?" she asked.

The 2016 Democratic nominee said that she couldn’t "imagine it. I really can't."

"That’s not a no," King said. 

That's pretty Shermanesque from Hillary Clinton, all things considered.

[NewYorkExpress]

DeSantis will be holding a fundraiser in Utah with some megadonors during the week of July 18.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is planning a private fundraiser in Utah later this month that is expected to draw some of the country’s wealthiest Republican donors as he signals a possible run for president in 2024.

DeSantis is set to head to Utah the week of July 18 for the private gathering, according to people familiar with the matter. Many asked not to be identified because the campaign is trying to keep the private event from getting too much public attention.

Though DeSantis is coming to Utah to raise money for his 2022 gubernatorial reelection campaign, fundraisers held in far-flung states like Utah, which is more than 2,000 miles from his home state, often suggest national aspirations.

The state is known to be a GOP stronghold; Utah voters have picked a Republican for president in each of the past six elections. Former President Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in the state by 20 percentage points in 2020.

Carson Jorgensen, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, said the state party isn’t co-hosting the event, but it will likely send someone to what’s expected to include breakfast and lunch with DeSantis. He noted the event is privately hosted and closed to the press.

“We just want to see more events done in the state supporting great candidates across the country,” Jorgensen said in a text message. He did not confirm a date of the gathering or who is going to be hosting DeSantis.

DeSantis spokeswoman Lindsey Curnutte wouldn’t confirm any details, saying the campaign doesn’t “discuss private fundraising events with members of the press.”

....

A person helping organize the fundraiser this month said many donors from across the country have been invited and will attend the gathering in Utah, but they are trying to keep Trump from taking notice. Invites have been sent verbally, instead of by email, to limit any paper trail, this person said. Donors have been told that the meetings with DeSantis in Utah is likely to start early in the day on July 19.

The other reason DeSantis is keeping the event under the radar, this person added, is to avoid looking like he is preparing to take on Trump in the 2024 Republican primary and provoking the former president’s ire.

[NewYorkExpress]

Jon Stewart says he’s not interested in running for president:

https://www.thewrap.com/jon-stewart-2024-presidential-run-no-thank-you/

Jon Stewart wasted neither time nor words responding to a viral op-ed calling for him to run for president in 2024.

“Ummm… no thank you,” the television host tweeted after Politico published an opinion piece declaring Stewart the Democratic Party’s best chance at holding onto the White House.

Stewart's the wrong late night talk show host for 2024.

Colbert 2024, please.

[NewYorkExpress]

Biden: Democrats want me to run

President Biden insisted Tuesday that Democrats want him to run for reelection, firing back at doubters after a poll showed a majority of primary voters wanted someone else at the top of the ticket in 2024. 

“They want me to run,” Biden said Tuesday evening when asked by a reporter, toward the end of the White House Congressional Picnic, for his message to Democrats who don’t want him to run for reelection.


“Read the polls. Read the polls,” Biden continued. “You guys are all the same. That poll showed that 92 percent of Democrats if I ran would vote for me.”

[NewYorkExpress]

Trump is expected to announce before the midterms, possibly as early as September.

Donald Trump is expected to announce a 2024 presidential run ahead of November’s midterm elections, and in spite of advice from his closest aides, two confidents claim.

Two advisers told The Washington Post he is now allegedly eyeing September to make an announcement at the earliest, the paper reported on Thursday.

One aide described the chances of an announcement as being at “70-30 he announces before the midterms”, while others reportedly said September could be the soonest date.

[NewYorkExpress]

Trump declaring before the midterms is just about the best thing that could happen for the Democrats at this point. If he can’t help but make the election about himself that might keep a few wavering Dem voters on board.

I agree, and that the prospect that he'll run again along with the Dobbs decision is going to be a huge motivation for the Democrats. It'll be a push that will be about 95% of the strength of the Dem wave of 2018, and will help Dems keep control of both chambers of Congress.

It really doesn't matter what happens, Biden's too unpopular for Democrats to keep the House or the Senate.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1548050633009143808
I will abandon Trump in a second if Tucker runs.

Tucker vs. Trump?

Someone pass me some popcorn.

[NewYorkExpress]

I don’t think Tucker is actually running.https://mobile.twitter.com/theFAMiLYLEADER/status/1548060965660307456

Doesn't sound like he's going to endorse Trump either.

#3 sounds nothing like Trump.

[NewYorkExpress]

J.B Pritzker was in Tampa giving a speech to Florida Democrats over the weekend. Take a look at the text of the speech. Pretty much every line is an attack against Ron DeSantis, a possible 2024 candidate.

[NewYorkExpress]

Mitch McConnell predicts that there will be a crowded GOP Primary field in 2024.

Mitch McConnell sent a clear signal on Tuesday that he does not think Donald Trump will clear the Republican presidential field even if he decides to run in 2024.

Asked how he would handle a third presidential bid by Trump, McConnell pivoted. "I think we're going to have a crowded field for president," the Senate Republican leader said. "I assume that most of that'll unfold later and people will be picking their candidates during a crowded primary field."

Which may seem banal -- unless you know that McConnell never says anything without a) thinking about it first and b) meaning exactly what he says.

Given that, it's right to read McConnell's answer as a sort of "come on in, the water's fine" moment, an attempt to ensure that aspiring Republican contenders wouldn't get spooked by Trump being in the race.

[NewYorkExpress]

Gavin Newsom is running full page ads in Texas newspapers trolling Greg Abbott, a possible 2024 candidate for the Republicans.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is running full-page ads in Texas newspapers Friday trolling Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to highlight a new California gun law modeled on the Lone Star State’s restrictive abortion law.

The ads, first shared with NBC News, will run in the Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle and El Paso Times. They modify an Abbott quote about the state's abortion ban and promote “California’s answer to Texas’ perverse bill.”

“If Texas can ban abortion and endanger lives, California can ban deadly weapons of war and save lives. If Governor Abbott truly wants to protect the right to life, we urge him to follow California’s lead,” the ad reads.

The move is the latest example of Newsom's foray into national politics after buying TV ads in Florida knocking GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis and decrying Democratic timidity while in Washington last week.

I have to admit, in the scenario where Biden doesn't run, a Harris vs Newsom primary would be interesting to watch.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Turning Point USA Summit in Tallahassee was this weekend. Trump again hints at a 2024 run. Also speaking, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley and Ron DeSantis.

Former President Donald Trump will address supporters Saturday evening at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida.


Trump's appearance at the annual event comes after several other prominent Republicans – including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – addressed the crowd of young attendees.

https://www.fox13news.com/news/we-may-just-have-to-do-it-again-trump-teases-another-run-during-speech-at-tampa-summit

Trump was the keynote speaker Saturday night. During his speech, he pushed back against COVID-19 restrictions, cancel culture, Critical Race Theory, and spoke about election fraud.

"I ran twice, I won twice and did much better the second time than I did the first, getting millions of millions more votes than we did in 2016 and likewise getting more votes than any sitting president in the history of our country by far," Trump said. "And now we may just have to do it again."

[NewYorkExpress]

Al Gore on Meet the Press denies interest in another run.

Former Vice President Al Gore on Sunday knocked down the notion of launching another presidential bid, calling himself a “recovering politician.”

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” moderator Chuck Todd asked Gore about Australia’s last election, which was focused on climate change issues, and about Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s (D) 2020 presidential campaign, which was heavily focused on climate change. Todd asked Gore whether he could launch a similar campaign.


“Jay Inslee tried to run a climate-focused campaign and it didn’t get off the ground. Why not you, Al Gore?” Todd asked.

“Why not me, as a candidate?” Gore replied.

“Leading a climate change presidential campaign in the future,” Todd asked Gore.

“Oh, well, thank you for making the suggestion,” Gore told Todd. “You know, I’m a recovering politician. And the longer I go without a relapse, the less likely one becomes.”

[NewYorkExpress]

Pence and Trump both delivering Speeches in Washington D.C over the next few days. Pence will be speaking before the Heritage Foundation, while Trump will be giving the keynote address to the America First Policy Institute's Summit.

Former Vice President Mike Pence will sound very much like a White House hopeful looking to lead his party beyond former President Donald Trump when he touts his "freedom agenda" for the Republican Party in a speech in Washington.

Pence will deliver remarks about a proposed conservative agenda at the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank. The trip -- though originally slated to take place Monday evening, one day before Trump makes his first visit to the nation's capital since leaving office in January 2021 -- was postponed after Pence's flight into the Washington, DC, area was diverted because of storms, according to John Cooper, a spokesman for the think tank. It will be rescheduled for another day.

"The Freedom Agenda provides a clear roadmap for conservative leaders looking to connect deeply with the American people on their top priorities," Pence plans to say, according to prepared remarks obtained by CNN. "It is built upon the belief that Americans want to create more economic opportunity, restore American leadership on the world stage, and are proud of traditional American culture and want to preserve it."

His prepared remarks touch on the importance of building a "lasting majority" and the need for "unified conservative action" as opposed to looking backward.

"Some people may choose to focus on the past," Pence's planned remarks read. "But I believe conservatives must focus on the future."

The speech had been planned for 24 hours before Trump will deliver keynote remarks at the America First Policy Institute's summit, a two-day event in Washington featuring elected Republicans and alumni of the Trump administration to discuss ideas for an "America first agenda."

[NewYorkExpress]

So, at last night's Democratic Primary debate in New York's twelfth Congressional District, Carolyn Maloney stated that she does not believe Biden is running for reelection. Jerry Nadler says it's too early to say.

Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York said Tuesday evening she doesn't believe President Joe Biden will run for reelection in 2024, the latest Democrat to publicly cast doubt on a second Biden term.

"I don't believe he's running for reelection," Maloney said when asked if the President should run again during a congressional primary debate in New York's 12th district.

Responding to the same question, Rep. Jerry Nadler, who is running against Maloney following redistricting, said it's "too early to say" and that it "doesn't serve the purpose of the Democratic Party" to deal with the question until after midterms. Maloney's other opponent, Suraj Patel, simply answered, "Yes."

[NewYorkExpress]

DeSantis is heading to Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Ohio for rallies boosting 2022 candidates.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is set to hit the campaign trail this month for several of former President Trump’s endorsed candidates in a handful of 2022 battlegrounds.

DeSantis will travel to Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania this month for a series of rallies hosted and organized by the conservative group Turning Point Action, the governor’s campaign announced Monday. Fox News first reported the news.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1559727777737330688

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1559727777737330688

She’s definitely no Abraham Lincoln. I’m a Democrat and feel that this is the equivalent of Republicans speculating about Tulsi Gabbard winning the Democratic nomination in ‘24 or something.

I could easily see Tulsi running for the Republican nomination in 2024 or 2028, actually.

[NewYorkExpress]

Pence at the Iowa State Fair, says a decision on Presidential bid will come any time after January 1.

Former Vice President Mike Pence said that he and his family would decide on a possible run for president “after the first of the year” during a stop at the Iowa State Fair on Friday.

“After the first of the year, my family and I will do as we’ve always done, and that is reflect and pray on where we might next serve, where we might contribute,” Pence said, after being asked if he would run in 2024.

The comment from the typically reserved and scripted Pence seemed to mark a shift from just a few months ago, when allies were talking up a possible spring 2023 launch. But a Pence adviser said Friday not to read too much into Pence’s comment, saying the timeline for a decision hadn’t changed.

Ted Cruz was in Clear Lake, Iowa, headlining a fundraiser for Chuck Grassley.

Conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz will stop in Iowa on Thursday, on a 2022 mission that’s also sure to spark more speculation about a potential 2024 White House run.

The two-term Republican senator from Texas will headline a fundraiser for longtime GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who’s running for re-election in November’s midterms. Word of the event, which will be held in the northern Iowa city of Clear Lake, was shared first with Fox News on Tuesday.

"My friend and colleague Chuck Grassley is a champion for Iowa and the American people. Chuck understands the importance of securing the southern border and I’m proud to fight with him every day to hold the corrupt and deeply politicized Biden administration accountable on the Judiciary Committee," Cruz said in a statement.

Rick Santorum was at the Iowa State Fair, advocating for a constitutional convention.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum will be at the Iowa State Fair  Thursday with the Convention of States Action group.

The Pennsylvania Republican visited Iowa earlier this year with the same group, rallying at the Iowa State Capitol for the state to join calls to convene a constitutional convention to amend the U.S. Constitution. So far, 19 states have passed a resolution to convene, according to the Convention of States website. The constitution requires 34 states to pass resolutions in order to call a convention.

[NewYorkExpress]

Pence was at Bremer County GOP Annual Summer Grill and Chill in Waverly, Iowa yesterday.

Former Vice President Mike Pence continued to make his way through Iowa on Saturday, further fueling speculation he could be considering a 2024 presidential run.

Pence spoke at the Bremer County GOP Annual Summer Chill and Grill to advocate for Republican candidates on the ballot in November.

"In these 80 days, we need to remind the American people that we can have a strong nation, we can have secure borders, we can have a prosperous economy, we can defend all the God given liberties enshrined in our Constitution, but it will take Republican leadership at every level to do it," Pence said in his speech.