Welcome to another Democratic Presidential Clown Car Update! Amy Klobuchar is In, Mitch Landrieu is Probably Out, Elizabeth Warren gives a speech, and Biden is just biding his time.
Weekly 538 roundup.
Boston Globe tracker.
Questions the media should (but won’t) ask Democratic Presidential hopefuls. Like “Specifically, what limits, if any, do you believe should be placed on abortion?” and “How do you propose eliminating nearly 90 percent of American energy usage in 11 years?”
Losing Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams: Out. She didn’t launch a campaign during her state of the union response, so I think we can safely assume she’s out.
Creepy Porn lawyer Michael Avenatti: Out.
Colorado Senator Michael Bennet: Learning toward In. “‘We’ve got a million people that are going to run, which I think is great,’ Bennet said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. But, he added, ‘I think having one more voice in that conversation that’s focused on America’s future, I don’t think would hurt.’ Bennet, 54, cast himself as a centrist Democrat who would bring business and managerial experience to the crowded field.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden: Leaning toward running. Hamlet continues to seek the council of fellow Democrats, especially senators.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg: Making noises like he’s getting in. Promises a decision by the end of February.
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker: In. Twitter. Twenty things you probably didn’t know about Cory Booker. Including the fact he was a college football player and has more Native American ancestry than Elizabeth Warren (not a high barrier).
Former California Governor Jerry Brown: Doesn’t sound like it.
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown: Likely In. “It appears a presidential run from Sen. Sherrod Brown is gaining momentum with voters.” And he gave a speech in New Hampshire.
Montana Governor Steve Bullock: Leaning toward In, but is reportedly going to wait until Montana’s legislative session finishes, which would be May 1. “The 2020 Democrat with a full-fledged Republican fan club.”
South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg: In. Twitter. Facebook. Scheduled to appear on Colbert.
Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, Jr.: Out.
Former San Antonio Mayor and Obama HUD Secretary Julian Castro: In. Twitter. Are you interested in a piece on Castro’s foreign policy ideas from the Council on Foreign elations blog? Me neither, but here it is.
Former First Lady, New York Senator, Secretary of State and losing 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton: Probably not. All quiet on the Clinton front this week. Those new Elder Signs must be working…
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo: Out.
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio: Leaning toward In. Reportedly searching for staffers for a possible run, much to the horror of everyone around him. Upgrade from Maybe.
Maryland Representative John K. Delaney: In. He’s been running for two years.
Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard: In. Twitter. Today’s MSM hit piece on Gabbard comes from The Independent: “White nationalists and Russian propaganda machine throw support behind 2020 candidate.” And Gabbard can’t be wild that former Klansman David Duke is supporting her.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti: Out.
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: In. Twitter. Evidently she’s not running a well-oiled machine, which lead to AP reporter Meg Kinnard to being openly hostile to Gillibrand’s comms director.
Former Tallahassee Mayor and failed Florida Senate candidate Andrew Gillum: Out.
California Senator Kamala Harris: In. Twitter feed. Tons of fawning in-the-tank MSM coverage omitted. But The Guardian wonders just how genuine Harris’ shift to the leftwing church of what’s happening now really is. Also, here’s more evidence that the establishment’s “in the tank for Harris”:
See also this post if you haven’t already.
Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper: Probably In. He hired an Iowa staffer.
Former Obama Attorney General Eric Holder: Maybe. Has a speech scheduled in Iowa…but only one. Not seeing much activity, which begs the question: Is Holder not actively doing anything to support a possible run, or is the MSM freezing out mention of what he is doing to help clear the lane for Kamala Harris?
Washington Governor Jay Inslee: In. He’s running on climate change and gun control. Why not not just go ahead and adopt “Screw You, Middle America” as your campaign slogan?
Virginia Senator and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Vice Presidential running mate Tim Kaine: Out.
Former Obama Secretary of State and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry: Not seeing any sign.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar: In. Twitter feed. She announced she was running Sunday, outdoors in a snowstorm, following scathing articles from former Klobuchar aides about how she was a rageholic who treated staffers like shit. “How Amy Klobuchar Could Win The 2020 Democratic Nomination.” I really need to do a piece on how Silver’s 2020 democratic voter demographic breakdown is bunk…
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu: Probably Out. “I don’t think I’m going to do it.” Downgrade from Maybe.
Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe: Leaning toward a run. Says he would “like to” run and will make a decision by March 31.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley: Maybe.
Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton: Maybe? “U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who was in New Hampshire last weekend amid speculation that he might run for president, will give a speech at the Brookings Institution next week where he plans to outline his ‘vision for the future of U.S foreign policy,’ according to his campaign.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama: Out.
Former West Virginia State Senator Richard Ojeda: Out.
Former Texas Representative and failed Senatorial candidate Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke: Maybe? In his talk with Oprah Winfrey, he says he’ll decide by the end of February. He’s giving an anti-border wall speech in El Paso the same time President Trump is giving his speech in El Paso. Dallas Morning News writer wonders: “Has he missed his window of opportunity?”
“It feels a little saturated at the moment,” said Brigham Hoegh, the Democratic chairwoman in Audubon County, in western Iowa. “Kamala [Harris] made a big show and looks really strong in the last couple of weeks. I feel like he could still jump in, but there’s a ton of people in the race that are getting attention. He hasn’t been top of the mind lately.”
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez: Constitutionally ineligible to run in 2020.
Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick: Out.
Ohio Democratic Representative Tim Ryan: Maybe?. You know that Sherrod Brown speech in New Hampshire? Ryan had signage there. “Youngstown-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan’s smiling face greeted the crowd of 350 who showed up to hear Brown’s speech, part of his visit to the early-voting states in the presidential primary.” Might be nothing. Might be just Ryan jacking with another Ohio Democrat. But still an upgrade over “Doubtful.” Entrails cloudy, ask again later.
Vermont Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders: All but In. The Atlantic says he’s a lock for the race and jumping in this month. He and O’Rourke are leading the small donor derby.
Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer: Out.
California Representative Eric Swalwell: Leaning toward In. Soon: “He has already added staff and offices in some key early states as he builds out a national campaign infrastructure.”
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren: In. Twitter. Ann Althouse thought Warren gave a great kickoff speech. Also see this post if you haven’t already.
Author and spiritual advisor Marianne Williamson: In. Get’s a Marie Claire profile. Well, they do have about nine times the circulation of The Nation…
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey: Out.
Venture capitalist Andrew Yang: Running but no one cares. Twitter. Facebook. The longest of longshots is flogging the universal basic income lunacy.