The “Who is running in 2020?” tea leaves thread, Part 2

[Kylar]

An interesting article on Townhall this morning...
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2018/01/04/former-clinton-adviser-the-2020-democratic-primary-is-going-to-be-a-circus-n2429641
I could agree with him on this one...and I hope Steyer announces he's running. Bring on the 2020 democrats I want to see who is in and who is out.

[Mr. Morden]

Here is this week's #2020Vision column:

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/05/politics/2020-vision-surveying-the-field/index.html

Hilariously, they survey the Democratic field by name checking more than 35 potential candidates, and Martin O'Malley isn't one of them.  How many more Iowa and New Hampshire trips does the guy need to make?

[RogueBeaver]

Buttigieg keynoting Utah Dem dinner on the 19th.

[Mr. Morden]

Steyer bought a copy of "Fire and Fury" for every member of Congress:

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/06/politics/tom-steyer-fire-and-fury-michael-wolff-book-congress/index.html

[Mr. Morden]

Oprah Winfrey's "longtime partner" Stedman Graham floats Oprah for president:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mog-golden-globes-oprah-president-20180107-story.html

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[King Lear]

Oprah Winfrey's "longtime partner" Stedman Graham floats Oprah for president:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mog-golden-globes-oprah-president-20180107-story.html

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This is a horrific idea, the last thing this country needs is another inexperienced, celebrity, billionaire, president. I don’t care how Liberal she claims to be, in my view if Democrats take the low road and start nominating unqualified wealthy celebrities, then their no longer the party of the working class and are instead a Socialy Liberal version of the Republican Party.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Oprah Winfrey's "longtime partner" Stedman Graham floats Oprah for president:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mog-golden-globes-oprah-president-20180107-story.html

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This is a horrific idea, the last thing this country needs is another inexperienced, celebrity, billionaire, president. I don’t care how Liberal she claims to be, in my view if Democrats take the low road and start nominating unqualified wealthy celebrities, then their no longer the party of the working class and are instead a Socialy Liberal version of the Republican Party.

Before I watched that speech I would’ve agreed with you, wholeheartedly. But I got genuine Obama-vibes from her last night. If she shows she has an actual grasp of issues foreign and domestic, I could see myself supporting her.

[Arnaud]

Her speech was terrific. I just saw it on Youtube. I didn't know she's a good speaker like that.

She has the charisma and everyone knows how important it is.

[kyc0705]

I saw Oprah's speech last night as well. I don't think she'll run for President, but holy wow that speech was magnificent. I had actual chills. She can command a room like no one else.

[RogueBeaver]

Oprah actively thinking about running.

[Sir Mohamed]

Oprah actively thinking about running.

Oh please not. No celebrity. We need someone who understands government business and not another show(wo)man.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

If Oprah ran, I would vote for her. Not sure about the primaries but hell, I would campaign my ass off for her.

[kyc0705]

If Oprah ran, I would vote for her. Not sure about the primaries but hell, I would campaign my ass off for her.

I'm not saying I want her to run, nor do I think she will, but her case is far more convincing than Trump's ever was. He's a rich white guy who was born into wealth and just got richer. She was born into absolute poverty—a black woman growing up in the 1950s and '60s—and from tremendous personal hardship, was able to become a billionaire who's one of the most famous people in the entire country. Her story works much better.

I think if she did run, she'd be near-impossible to beat in the Democratic primaries from the second she announced her candidacy.

[Mr. Morden]

http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/08/media/oprah-golden-globes/index.html

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[Mr. Morden]

de Blasio claims to not have White House ambitions, yet is now talking about flying all around the country in order to support progressive causes:

https://nypost.com/2018/01/07/de-blasio-reveals-plans-to-travel-all-around-the-country

[Kylar]

Fyi,
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/367906-billionaire-donor-steyer-says-he-wont-run-for-office-in-2018
Looks like Steyer is out in 2018...though 2020 I wonder...

[Mr. Morden]

Fyi,
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/367906-billionaire-donor-steyer-says-he-wont-run-for-office-in-2018
Looks like Steyer is out in 2018...though 2020 I wonder...

Steyer also said that he’ll spend $30 million to help Dems in the midterms this year:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-08/democrat-steyer-will-spend-30-million-on-u-s-house-midterms

And he declined to rule out a presidential run:

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In other news, The Hill recaps the Iowa trips by various candidates this past year, and notes that Biden may be eyeing a trip there in the near future….as well as a possible return by Sanders:

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/367619-dem-hopefuls-flock-to-iowa

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[History505]

http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-weighs-in-oprah-for-president-2018-1
Mark Cuban thinks "it's great" that Oprah may run for President.

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2018/01/08/Oprah-2020-may-have-trended-on-Twitter-but-she-is-denying-any-ambitions-to-be-president/stories/201801080142

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[Old Man Willow]

Why would her partner say she would "absolutely do it" if she isn't considering?

[Former Kentuckian]

Why would her partner say she would "absolutely do it" if she isn't considering?

I don't know, but it's up to Oprah and not her partner.

[Mr. Morden]

NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander tweets this:

https://twitter.com/PeterAlexander/status/950509091721502720

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[History505]

We might just be going through a Oprah frenzy.  I would rather focus on potential candidates that are actively showing signs of a candidacy. Until Oprah starts to get more serious about it, just speculation.

[Mr. Morden]

Tom Steyer has apparently started conducting polls in Iowa and New Hampshire (and also gave another non-denial of presidential ambition):

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/09/2020-wealthy-democrats-steyer-winfrey-trump-328187

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That same story says that Howard Schultz might actually run as an Independent rather than a Democrat(!):

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[Chancellor Tanterterg]

NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander tweets this:

https://twitter.com/PeterAlexander/status/950509091721502720

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A Winfrey vs. Trump election might well be the very beginning of the end of democracy in America.