Wayne Messam announces exploratory committee

[Mr. Morden]

One of the many oddities here is that he launched this exploratory committee just a day after being reelected as mayor:

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/290746-messam-cruises-re-election

"Vote for me, and I'll keep doing a good job as your mayor."

One day later:

"Jk, I'm actually going to run around the country campaigning for another job because I want to be president instead."

[Sestak]

One of the many oddities here is that he launched this exploratory committee just a day after being reelected as mayor:

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/290746-messam-cruises-re-election

"Vote for me, and I'll keep doing a good job as your mayor."

One day later:

"Jk, I'm actually going to run around the country campaigning for another job because I want to be president instead."

He won by a vote count of just 5738 to 943. Lol.

[Mr. Morden]

He's headed to the Middle East:

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/291138-wayne-messam-travels-to-middle-east-after-launching-exploratory-committee

He plans to meet there with major regional players in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The White House longshot seeks to burnish his foreign policy credentials at meetings in Jerusalem and Ramallah.

“I thought it important to take the next step and visit with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders in-person to hear about the crisis that reverberates around the world,” Messam said in a statement.
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During the journey overseas, Messam plans to meet with experts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and officials from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also expects to talk with leadership with the Speakers of Knesset and at B’Tsalem, a leading human rights organization.

The Florida official also seems intent on meeting with opponents of Israeli’s settlement policy.

Dr. Saeb Erakat, the Palestinian diplomat who negotiated the Oslo Accords, and Hanan Ashrawi, the first woman elected to the Palestinian National Council, both have meetings with Messam.

The mayor will also visit with Breaking The Silence, a non-governmental organization formed by Israeli Defense Forces veterans that wants Israel to leave the West Bank.

[Cold War Liberal]

I mean I find him moderately attractive but that's not a reason to vote for him. I really don't see why he's running...

Is he trying to boost his profile for a statewide run in 2022?

Also:

He urgently needs to remove that large, unsharp picture of him on the left where he looks a bit goofy (the picture of him in the background should remain, but I would move that to the left instead).

[Former Crackhead Mike Lindell]

He's headed to the Middle East:

WHO IS FUNDING THIS??

[DabbingSanta]

Who is this guy and why is he running for president

[Senator Incitatus]

My actual theory: someone, whether Messam or a backer, is trying to exploit the fact that both black candidates are of mixed ethnicity. It would make more sense with Gillum given his state-wide profile, but I wonder if we'll see colorism play any role in some of the Democratic primaries.

[Former Crackhead Mike Lindell]

My actual theory: someone, whether Messam or a backer, is trying to exploit the fact that both black candidates are of mixed ethnicity. It would make more sense with Gillum given his state-wide profile, but I wonder if we'll see colorism play any role in some of the Democratic primaries.

This is the right answer, I reckon. Someone, like you said, either Messam or his backers, looked at the vegan, son-of-IBM-executives Cory Booker, and the half-Indian, state prosecutor Kamala Harris, and figured: hey, they're not really... black enough, are they? They're both rich, privileged, coastal elites. Or, at least, easy enough to portray as such. Let's get ourselves a black candidate from the south, preferably within commuting distance to South Carolina, and park them up in that state. Gillum or Abrams would be much better fits for this strategy, and who knows, maybe they'll run too.

Will it work? No.

[Former Crackhead Mike Lindell]

Looks like he's announcing on March 30.

https://twitter.com/WayneMessam/status/1107699286739955713

[bluesolid]

cnn.com/2019/03/28/politics/wayne-messam-announces-2020-bid/index.html

Wayne Messam, the little-known mayor of Miramar, Florida, announced Thursday that he is running for president, launching a campaign that will look to accomplish the unlikely: Turning the mayor of the 140,000-person town into the next president of the United States.

Messam, in a highly produced video released to CNN, tells voters that he is running for president and rails against what he calls a "broken" federal government in Washington, DC.

He just announced.

[User155815470020]

Unpalatable. Messam talks like a politician and cannot answer a question directly (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jQrBjDqC_I).

Sanders 2020!

[Adam Griffin]

My actual theory: someone, whether Messam or a backer, is trying to exploit the fact that both black candidates are of mixed ethnicity. It would make more sense with Gillum given his state-wide profile, but I wonder if we'll see colorism play any role in some of the Democratic primaries.

Some poster (I believe Sam Spade?) came up with a theory many years ago/pre-Obama that basically said "Americans are willing to elect a black President, so long as they're not descended from American slaves". Sample sizes and all, but between Obama and Harris, it seems to be holding up thus far.

[ElectionsGuy]

So he's definitely the Gilmore of this race, right?

I think there's going to be candidates below Gilmore's level. He made it into one debate at least, let's see how many remain unknown to 80%+ of the Democratic electorate and don't get into a single debate. I think Delaney is the Gilmore personally.

[Galeel]

So he's definitely the Gilmore of this race, right?

I think there's going to be candidates below Gilmore's level. He made it into one debate at least, let's see how many remain unknown to 80%+ of the Democratic electorate and don't get into a single debate. I think Delaney is the Gilmore personally.

Delaney could get into the first debate. He only needs one more poll giving him >1%.

[beaver2.0]

My actual theory: someone, whether Messam or a backer, is trying to exploit the fact that both black candidates are of mixed ethnicity. It would make more sense with Gillum given his state-wide profile, but I wonder if we'll see colorism play any role in some of the Democratic primaries.

Some poster (I believe Sam Spade?) came up with a theory many years ago/pre-Obama that basically said "Americans are willing to elect a black President, so long as they're not descended from American slaves". Sample sizes and all, but between Obama and Harris, it seems to be holding up thus far.

Messam’s parents are immigrants from Jamaica though.

[Mister Mets]

It starts getting ridiculous. Seems like every Fifth rate mayor or backbenchers in congress think they can win the nomination, beat Trump and effectively govern.

Some of these are people for whom congressional backbencher would be a promotion.