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

[tosk]

Jeff Flake headed to New Hampshire:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/2018/02/27/jeff-flake-president-2020-arizona-senator-fuels-speculation-new-hampshire-event/378010002/

great...

Bullock headed to California to meet with big $ donors:

https://twitter.com/costareports/status/968631739013791744

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great!

[Mr. Morden]

Oprah dials back her denials a bit to indicate that she might run for prez if God told her to:

http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/375969-oprah-if-im-supposed-to-run-for-president-god-has-to-tell-me

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[Mr. Morden]

Flake dodges on 2020, saying only that he's not planning a run right now:

https://ktar.com/story/1971202/flake-reiterates-hes-staying-out-of-2020-presidential-race-but/

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[Mr. Morden]

Bullock headed to Iowa:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2018/02/28/2020-watch-montana-gov-steve-bullock-coming-iowa/381788002/

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[Mr. Morden]

Eric Holder on 2020:

http://freebeacon.com/politics/holder-might-run-president-2020-think-ive-got-guts/

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[Mr. Morden]

It’s the 53rd anniversary of Bloody Sunday (Selma edition) this month, and Kamala Harris will be keynoting a commemorative breakfast in Selma on Sunday, and also participating in a commemorative march across the bridge:

https://www.selmatimesjournal.com/2018/02/23/plenty-of-events-on-tap-for-jubilee/

Meanwhile, Harris was asked by Tom Joyner if she’s going to run for president in 2020, and she changes the subject right away, simply saying that she’s “focused” on 2018:

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/02/28/senator-kamala-harris-is-laser-focused-on-2018/

[Mr. Morden]

The NYT has a story about Inslee pursuing a carbon tax in Washington, and they also include this line:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/climate/jay-inslee-carbon-tax.html

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[Mr. Morden]

Sasse is amping up his criticism of Trump, particularly on guns and trade:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/02/politics/ben-sasse-donald-trump-criticism-republican-party/index.html

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And then on guns:

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[Mr. Morden]

Mark Cuban had previously said there was a 10% chance he'd run for prez in 2020.  Now says it's "10% at the most".  Also says he'd likely run as an Independent, and probably only if the Dems do poorly in the midterms this year:

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/03/02/270967/mark-cuban-hasnt-ruled-out-a-run-for-president-but-it-will-take-soul-searching/

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[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Mark Cuban had previously said there was a 10% chance he'd run for prez in 2020.  Now says it's "10% at the most".  Also says he'd likely run as an Independent, and probably only if the Dems do poorly in the midterms this year:

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/03/02/270967/mark-cuban-hasnt-ruled-out-a-run-for-president-but-it-will-take-soul-searching/

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He keeps changing which party he’s gonna run under. He’s already fatally wounded himself anyway.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

It’s the 53rd anniversary of Bloody Sunday (Selma edition) this month, and Kamala Harris will be keynoting a commemorative breakfast in Selma on Sunday, and also participating in a commemorative march across the bridge:

https://www.selmatimesjournal.com/2018/02/23/plenty-of-events-on-tap-for-jubilee/

Meanwhile, Harris was asked by Tom Joyner if she’s going to run for president in 2020, and she changes the subject right away, simply saying that she’s “focused” on 2018:

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/02/28/senator-kamala-harris-is-laser-focused-on-2018/

She's running, and everyone knows it.

[Mr. Morden]

Flake predicts that Trump will face a primary challenge, doesn't rule out doing it himself but also says he might run as an Independent:

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/376515-jeff-flake-there-will-be-a-republican-challenger-to-trump-in-2020

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On the prospect of an Independent run:

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[Mr. Morden]

Sunday morning talk show watch: Chris Murphy will be on This Week on Sunday, while Kasich will appear on State of the Union:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NEWS_SHOWS?SITE=AP

[Mr. Morden]

Deval Patrick was in Kansas City this week, and was interviewed by the radio station KCUR, which you can listen to here:

http://kcur.org/post/seg-1-discrimination-and-american-dream-seg-2-deval-patrick-democrats-next-big-hope#stream/0

At about the 26:30 mark, he’s asked if he’s thinking about running for president in 2020, and he comes right out and admits “It’s on my radar screen.”  No messing around with being “focused” on something else, but admitting that it’s something he’s thinking about right now, by saying “I am trying to think through 2020.”

[Rookie Yinzer]

Kamala and Steve

[Mr. Morden]

Martin O'Malley was in Pennsylvania a few days ago, bringing his musical gifts to the aid of Conor Lamb:



Later this week he'll be debating Rick Santorum at an event in Michigan, because....why not?:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2018/03/03/debate-santorum-omalley-michigan/389408002/

[Mr. Morden]

Eric Holder was on Real Time with Bill Maher last night:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/03/03/obamas-attorney-general-rebukes-trump-i-had-a-president-i-did-not-have-to-protect/?utm_term=.b33a3acd2fe9

[America Needs R'hllor]

Later this week he'll be debating Rick Santorum at an event in Michigan, because....why not?:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2018/03/03/debate-santorum-omalley-michigan/389408002/

These are the true 2020 frontrunners.

[History505]

Later this week he'll be debating Rick Santorum at an event in Michigan, because....why not?:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2018/03/03/debate-santorum-omalley-michigan/389408002/

These are the true 2020 frontrunners.

Santorum already said he is not going to President again.

[Mr. Morden]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/04/politics/john-kasich-trump-2020-cnntv/index.html

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[Mr. Morden]

University of Montana political science Prof. Rob Saldin talks about the possibility of Bullock running in 2020:

http://mtpr.org/post/campaign-beat-guns-schools-bullock-lays-groundwork-presidential-campaign

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[NewYorkExpress]

University of Montana political science Prof. Rob Saldin talks about the possibility of Bullock running in 2020:

http://mtpr.org/post/campaign-beat-guns-schools-bullock-lays-groundwork-presidential-campaign

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Bullock could also be signaling that he intends to run against Daines in 2020 instead.

[Mr. Morden]

Here's this week's #2020Vision column:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/04/politics/2020-vision-democrats-trump-gridiron/index.html

[Mr. Morden]

Kasie Hunt presses Chris Murphy on whether he’ll run for prez in 2020 here:

https://twitter.com/KasieDC/status/970473274743427072

He initially gives a non-denial denial, then she presses again:

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Which again, is a dodge.  Saying you “have no plans” doesn’t mean that you’re not going to end up doing it.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

Kasie Hunt presses Chris Murphy on whether he’ll run for prez in 2020 here:

https://twitter.com/KasieDC/status/970473274743427072

He initially gives a non-denial denial, then she presses again:

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Which again, is a dodge.  Saying you “have no plans” doesn’t mean that you’re not going to end up doing it.

He would be a terrible general election candidate. he's too "elitist" and way too anti-gun for the rust belt and Midwest.