The New York Times’ Jonathan Martin is reporting that establishment Dems are in panic mode over their choices to take on Donald Trump in 2020 and they’re “wondering about late entrants to the race”:
Party leaders who are worried about Democrats’ chances in 2020 are wondering about possible late entrants to the race. Sherrod Brown? Michelle Obama? https://t.co/Y9Ga13R7Pg
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 22, 2019
LOL. And if Sherrod Brown or Michelle Obama say no, there’s always Hillary and John Kerry:
NEW: Tis the season
-Bloomberg & Hillary have told folks they'd run if they there was opening
-Kerry has showed signs of regret, is worried about Biden
-Sherrod is getting more calls urging him to reconsider
-Holder still talking about it
-And: Deval!https://t.co/aJZLw3RKOg— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) October 22, 2019
“There’s more anxiety than ever”:
Read @jmartNYT on nervous Democrats who look at their presidential field and say: Could anybody else run? Please? Michelle? https://t.co/2dTmiuRe81 pic.twitter.com/mhv7grYoom
— Byron York (@ByronYork) October 22, 2019
Keep in mind, Dems are leading in the polls so maybe they don’t believe the polls?
Gotta admire their scaredy-cat perseverance — their top contenders all lead Trump in the polls https://t.co/AlUkFgtiRq
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) October 22, 2019
Maybe James Mattis enters the race?
Not to trigger @ThirdWayMattB, but the similarities to ‘04 are remarkable, if a tad later in cycle:
Dems are consumed w defeating an incumbent R,worry about their ostensible frontrunner(s) and panic at rise of a progressive they fear would lose general
Enter GEN Wesley K. Clark
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) October 22, 2019
Recommended
Although Dems have done this to themselves before:
The bigger point is that these episodes are fairly routine for Dems. Some of the Clinton ‘92 crowd can still cite similar stories (to the month!) from their race.
Dems thought WJC was badly wounded in primary, pined for a BENTSEN entry at one pt. At another, GEPHARDT was it
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) October 22, 2019
Tick tock, Dems. Tick. Tock:
The biggest impediment to another candidate getting in: time.
Crucial filing deadlines are coming in a matter of weeks.
Second-biggest impediment: Biden’s weakness is far from fatal in the near term. And even if he were to drop after Iowa, the problem would be point #1
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) October 22, 2019
***
Join the conversation as a VIP Member