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

[President Johnson]

Haven't seen this in the 2020 board:

Last Friday, Steve Bullock was on Morning Joe and talked about the bad influence of money in politics and about showing up in rural areas to make up ground for Democrats. Still declined to answer whether he'll run: Video

The guy comes over as likeable, has definitely a message and a strategy how to win.

[President Johnson]

Haven't seen this in the 2020 board:

Last Friday, Steve Bullock was on Morning Joe and talked about the bad influence of money in politics and about showing up in rural areas to make up ground for Democrats. Still declined to answer whether he'll run: Video

The guy comes over as likeable, has definitely a message and a strategy how to win.

I'm a big Steve Bullock guy. 20% of Trump voters in Montana also voted for him. He's pro-gun, but pro-common sense, pro-net neutrality, runs on a platform of unity across all ideological leanings, comes across as Bernie-esque in terms of potential appeal minus the whole s-word thing.

Because of all that, though, he won't win. It's a shame that the Democrats will end up nominating another candidate who plays the I'm Not Trump/identity politics card, only to get crushed in the states that are more willing to support a candidate like Bullock.

Couldn't agree more. Steve Bullock with a female and possibly minority running mate like Kamala Harris would be pretty tough for Trump. I still hope the Democrats are smart enough.

[President Johnson]

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/418620-clinton-dodges-question-on-2020-bid

Hilary, please don't.

Let her run to embrass herself and drop out after finishing in single digits in the Iowa Caucus.

[President Johnson]

IMO: The three frontrunners right now are:
Biden
Harris
Beto

Sherrod seems to be picking up name recognition though.

Pretty much, though Bernie's polling is generally comparable to Harris'.

Current polling doesn't suggest Harris a frontrunner. I have a feeling she'll be the Democratic Scott Walker.

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/amanbatheja/status/1073709813123739648

I'm not sure a two white male tickets would play well with the base. Something like that shows how disconnected Biden is.

I don't think a lot of people actually care. The base is energized enough in their desire to throw Trump out of office. Nevertheless, I think Biden shouldn't run for other reasons.

[President Johnson]

Buttigieg’s dog again. Big if true.

https://twitter.com/firstdogtruman/status/1074757617749233664?s=21

Pete is a good guy, but a bit too early for the presidency. A cabinet position? Absolutely.

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/KateNocera/status/1074764504104345600

God help us.

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/KateNocera/status/1074764504104345600

God help us.

Also, if Buttigieg runs I'd be really torn. On the one hand, I'd prefer he wins higher office like Governor or Congress before running. On the other hand, I think he'd make an amazing President after what he did in South Bend, and considering how hard it'd be for a Democrat to win Indiana, this might just be the right time. I'd probably be torn between Pete, Kirsten Gillibrand and Beto O'Rourke.

Yeah, Buttigieg is screwed when it comes to running for federal/statewide office in Indiana because there is a (D) next to his name. This is why I think he should be considered for the cabinet. HUD, Transporation or Education would be good as a starter. Maybe UN Ambassador if he's interested to earn foreign policy credentials.

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/KateNocera/status/1074764504104345600

God help us.

Also, if Buttigieg runs I'd be really torn. On the one hand, I'd prefer he wins higher office like Governor or Congress before running. On the other hand, I think he'd make an amazing President after what he did in South Bend, and considering how hard it'd be for a Democrat to win Indiana, this might just be the right time. I'd probably be torn between Pete, Kirsten Gillibrand and Beto O'Rourke.

He should run to raise name awareness, and maybe be included in cabinet or as a possible VP candidate. (he would be an excellent pick for Kamala).

This is probably true. There's really nothing to lose if he runs (except if he embarrasses himself, but there's a risk in everything you do), and it's likely the best path for him at this point.

I wonder whether not a handful of Democratic candidates this cycle only run to angle for an administration job. Same with Richard Ojeda, who could make a good Veteran's Secretary.

[President Johnson]

Harris prepares for a campaign launch that may come in mid-to-late January:

https://www.usnews.com/news/the-run/articles/2018-12-17/kamala-harris-expected-to-move-quickly-on-2020-race-in-january

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So Harris will be our first major announcement, this will put pressure on everyone else to declare by April

YES! QUEEN KAMALA, the first female President of the United States!

I have no idea why people love her. At first I just thought she was just overhyped, but she' actually terrible. Her office:

- Defended a prosecutor caught making up a transcript of a fake confession

- Hid massive abuses in the state crime lab

- Argued that a guy ruled not guilty should still be in prison because he didn't prove his innocent fast enough

- Supported a bill that would have locked up poor parents of color for kids' truancy

- Argued that people should be kept in prison longer because of cheap labor

- One of her top advisors was involved in a years-long MeToo scandal involving retaliation

- Started her career with nepotism

- Sent out a tweet purporting to raise money for Stacey Abrams last month, when half the money actually went to herself

That's on top of all the Mnuchin stuff that always gets attention. I mean whatever, if people don't want to care about any of that, that's their choice. But any time Harris becomes really controversial (which WILL happen, especially if she does well) there will be plenty of material to get her with.

Yeah I mean I would vote for her if she's the nominee but she won't even be my 6th choice in the primary. Horrid criminal justice reform record.

Yeah, part of these is the reason she dropped in my list of preferred candidates. I think Amy Klobuchar is by far the best female candidate and would be the best running mate for a male nominee. I'm also a bit concered Harris would play too much the "identity politics card".

[President Johnson]

Kamala Harris appeared twice on televsion yesterday, saying she has not made a final decision. She makes an authentic impression.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-cEU8MlP-U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0vLgIPWrQ

[President Johnson]

Some news on Steve Bullock:

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Full Newsweek Article

Looks like dark money in politics would be one of his key issues. He has long been an advocate for reforms here.

[President Johnson]

Booker and Gillibrand are both apparently losing weight to prepare for their campaigns:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/nyregion/cory-booker-gillibrand-weight-loss-2020.html

Didn't work for Christie although he had other issues.

[President Johnson]

Interesting points by Chris Cillizza on Sherrod Brown as dark horse nominee:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg8tyTH2tIQ

[President Johnson]

Hillary, Bernard, Biden, Kerry etc. are all terrible candidates. Democrats don't need some 75 year old guys for the 2020 election who ran in earlier cycles and all failed. I wish they would just go away. The only man of the past I'd support with enthusiasm is Al Gore, but he's not running.

[President Johnson]

Beto stopped raising money after he lost and hasn't met donors yet.

I think it's fair to say now that he is very likely not running.

[President Johnson]

Biden's back and forth starts getting pathetic at this point. I know this is not an easy decision, but why not giving yourself a defnite deadline and then enforce it? Can this be so hard? Presidents have to make lots of decisions and then live with it. Come on.

[President Johnson]

Bullock headed to Iowa later this week:

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/12/steve-bullock-2020-elections-1167279

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Yes! I hope he jumps in and exceeds expectations. Bullock has some unquie assets that would make him a very formidable candidate for the general election.

[President Johnson]

Terry McAuliffe appeared on Morning Joe today and said he would decide by the end of March whether to run. He stands by his word that both Northam and Faifax should resign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ9CUB8i1Ns


I don't think T-Mac would have a decent chance for nomination, but would make a decent president.

[President Johnson]

Cuomo says he'll defer to Biden but hasn't completely ruled out a run if Biden doesn't. As usual, Cuomo's virulently contemptuous of the professional left.

To be clear, this interview is from January, but is only being reported on now:

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/03/andrew-cuomo-thinks-hes-best-democrat-beat-trump/583642/

Here’s how Andrew Cuomo ends our first interview at the beginning of January, sitting in a chair in his office, after eating cookie No. 4 from the tray his staff prepared. I put a simple question to him: “Would you like to be president?” He dodges it over and over by talking about how much he wants to do his job as governor well. Finally he says, Well, Joe Biden is running anyway.

A lot of people think Biden is going to run, I acknowledge, and the former vice president certainly seems to be moving in that direction. But Biden looked like he was about to run in 2015 too, only to end speculation at the last minute. So: What if he doesn’t?

“Call me back,” Cuomo says, and puts his hand out immediately to shake, ending a conversation that lasted through a bathroom break and a theatrical phone call with his daughter, in which he begged her not to try cooking him dinner because she’d make too much of a mess of the pots.

I'd love him to run, he would be my number 2 or 3 choice after Bullock and Harris.

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/NYTnickc/status/1103709451465428993

This is the first opt-out that's really surprised me. 

Me, too. But may the best for him and the party to remain in the senate. He's a fine guy.

[President Johnson]

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/07/montana-gov-bullock-adviser-2020-1211289

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has hired veteran Democratic operative Jenn Ridder to work for his PAC, in the latest sign that the Western Democrat is nearing a presidential run.

Ridder will join Bullock's Big Sky Values PAC as a senior adviser, but she would be an obvious choice to manage Bullock's campaign should he decide to run for president. Ridder ran Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' successful campaign in 2018 and previously worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and was former Colorado Sen. Mark Udall's deputy campaign manager in 2014.
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Ridder's hiring is the latest in a series of behind-the-scenes moves laying the groundwork for Bullock's potential run. Big Sky Values PAC has already tapped Megan Simpson, a Democratic operative who most recently ran the coordinated campaign for the 2018 Montana Democratic Party, as its organizing director in Iowa.

This is great news. I hope his candidacy gains traction.