Fourteen Democrats, and counting, have either declared their candidacies for president or have begun campaigns with the establishment of presidential exploratory committees.
Eleven Democrats are considering running and many will no doubt announce for President within a few more weeks.
So far, President Donald Trump is the only Republican who has announced he is running for election in 2020.
Both Democrats Hillary Clinton, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Ohio United States Senator Sherrod Brown have announced they are not running.
NOTE: For the complete listing of all the candidates by name, see the below postscript after this article.
DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLLS
On February 12, 2019, a poll was released by Morning Poll that tracked how those considered to be the top Democratic presidential candidates with bases of support and financial backers are doing among Democratic primary voters nationwide and in early voting states.
The poll was taken in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.
More than 5,000 registered voters were polled daily and each week to track how the race changes.
Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders emerged as the two main preferences at this point in time with Kamala Harris coming in 3rd and all the others in single digits.
The poll released by Morning Consult revealed the following:
Joe Biden 29%
Bernie Sanders 22%
Kamala Harris 13%
Elizabeth Warren 8%
Beto O’Rourke 7%
Cory Booker 5%
Amy Klobuchar 3%
Among early Democrat primary state voters, Joe Biden has a bigger lead with 33% support, followed by Bernie Sanders at 21%, Kamal Harris at 11 percent, Elizabeth Warren at 10%, Cory Booker at 6%, and Beto O’Rourke at 5% with Amy Klobuchar polling at 2%.
Morning Consult also asked voters who their second choice would be.
Biden, Warren, and O’Rourke voters said Sanders was their second choice.
Sanders and Harris voters said Biden was their second choice.
The age demographics was very revealing.
Among the top five candidates of Biden, Sanders, Harris, Warren, and O’Rourke, former Vice President Biden’s supporters are the oldest, with an average age of 52.
Among the top five candidates, Sanders’s supporters are the youngest, averaging 41.
44% of Sanders supporters are under the age of 30, while 30% of Biden’s are over the age of 60.
Morning Consult asked Republican voters how they feel about 2020 with 1 in 5 saying they would like to see someone else besides President Donald Trump on the GOP ticket.
TRUMP’S APPROVAL RATING REMAINS STEADY
On March 5, 2019, a Gallup Poll was taken from February 12 to February 28 based on interviews with 1,932 adults was released.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.
The poll found that a clear majority of 54% of adults disapprove President Trump’s performance as president.
President Trump’s overall approval rating sits at 43%.
The Gallup Poll showed that President Trump’s approval rating on the economy has reached the highest level in his Presidency with a new high of 56% of adults approving of Trump’s handling of the economy.
The poll also found that 54% approve of Trump’s job with unemployment.
Further, a 51% majority of voters approve of Trump’s handling of North Korea despite his failure at the most recent summit that he walked away from.
According to the Gallup poll, Trump gets his lowest approval marks on his handling of relations with Russia (39%), race relations (38%), and corruption in government (37%).
Poll respondents were split heavily along partisan lines in their views of Trump.
A whopping 93% of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, compared to just 20% of Democrats.
Additionally, just 6% of Democrats approve of Trump’s overall job performance, while 90% of Republicans approve, according to the Gallup poll.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS LAUNCH AGGRESSIVE NEW TRUMP PROBE
On March 3, 2019, Democrats in the United State House of Representatives launched a sweeping new probe of President Donald Trump.
Democratic leaders have pledged to investigate all avenues and review special counsel Robert Mueller’s upcoming report before trying take any drastic action such as impeachment.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said his committee was beginning the probe into possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power.
The committee sent document requests to 81 people linked to the president and his associates.
It is likely the Trump probe will be an aggressive investigation that threatens to shadow Trump through the 2020 election with potentially damaging inquiries into his White House, campaign and family businesses all leading to Articles of Impeachment against Trump .
https://www.apnews.com/c1c319d8e4c943a482d03195d069e92a
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
It is far too easy and all too tempting for political pundits to say that no matter who the Democrats nominate, that person will beat Donald Trump in 2020.
That would be very wishful thinking.
There are more reasons to impeach Trump than there are candidates running against Trump, and that is a hell of a lot of reasons.
It is apparent that the Republican Party has become the Donald Trump Party.
The GOP is nothing but an empty shell of what it use to be with a warped Donald Trump brand of “conservatism” which is a form of Trump Fascism.
The Republican Party is no longer the Party of Lincoln nor the Party of Reagan.
President Trump is no better than the dictators he praises and admires: Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean President Kim Jung Un and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia who the CIA say personally ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashogge.
If Trump were running against all the Democrats combined in a national election, he would win a plurality vote with his 43% approval rating and his 90% Republican support, but thankfully that is not how it works.
Notwithstanding, the Democrat Party is also breaking up along varying degrees of its core values ranging from democrat socialist, progressives, corporate or capitalist democrats and moderate democrats.
The 2020 Democrat Presidential Primary Campaign is gearing up and it will likely be a real slug fest by all the candidates seeking attention and press headlines on a national level.
With so many Democrats running, it is difficult to imagine that any one candidate will emerge from the primary without any battle scares, some self-inflicted, and a weakened candidate.
The Democrat nominee will have a difficult time reuniting the party much like Hubert H. Humphrey and Jimmy Carter who both went through a bruising primary season, one as an outgoing Vice President and one as a sitting President with both eventually losing.
Hillary Clinton was never fully accepted by the Bernie Sanders supporters and she was accused of being a “corporate democrat”.
Clinton also failed to unite the party with Sanders supporters saying the primary was rigged in her favor, when it was more like Sanders supporters not accepting defeat in a national party he has never been a part of and party that never fully accepted him.
If Bernie Sanders does not become the Democrat nominee, many suggest he will not give it up and just run as an Independent or form a Socialist Democratic Party thereby ensuring Trumps election.
To Sanders, and his life’s work, preserving his “movement” will be far more important for him to be remembered than beating Trump.
The ultimate Democrat nominee may be too weak to take on a populist such as Trump who still has a large base of support that could enable him to squeak out another electoral college victory but losing the popular vote as he did last time to Clinton.
Trump has always appealed to America’s darker angels and sinister instincts.
Trump is the “Chaos President” and he thrives on it with always lying to the American public and with his base believing everything he says and does.
Trump has a strangle hold over all congressional Republicans who are afraid to oppose him on any level fearing his rath and the revenge of his base.
Trump has gotten away with being a racist and immoral on many levels, and for so many years, including his business dealing and paying off porn stars and vilifying the press as enemy of the people.
According to Trump’s former private attorney and fixer Michael Cohen, Trump is a racist, a conman and a cheat and from all the criminal indictments resulting from the Mueller investigation, Trump has surrounded himself with the same type of people, including his family members.
Notwithstanding all of Trump’s shortcomings, his racism and immoral conduct and the negative baggage he carries, the Republican Party will nominate him again and it will be very difficult at this point for any one of the Democrats running now to beat him.
Two major events that have the potential of forcing Trump from office more so than not being elected again are the Robert Mueller Report on his investigation of Russia influencing the 2016 election and the Democratic control of the House of Representatives.
The extent of Trumps treason and obstruction of justice is coming into focus with the indictment and conviction of so many of his close associates and it is likely to be revealed in full by the Robert Mueller Report once released.
As the 2020 election approaches, it is likely we have a President that will be facing impeachment and removal from office.
The country will know soon enough if impeachment, conviction and removal from office is justified and if so, the Democratic nominee just may face off with President Michael Pence or for that matter United State Senator Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee again.
With any luck, President Trump will resign or be forced from office.
Otherwise, the Democratic nomination may not be worth much to whoever is nominated.
Democrats have a bad habit of rescuing defeat from the jaws of victory.
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POSTSCRIPT
Following is a listing of announced and un announced candidates for President:
DEMOCRATS WHO ARE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
Beto O’Rourke (D): On March 14, 2019, Former United States Representative Robert Francis“Beto” O’Rourke, 46, announced his candidacy for President. O’Rouke served in the United States House from Texas’ 16th Congressional District, which includes El Paso, for 3 terms before losing a close election to Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in a U.S. Senate race last year. O’ Rourke shocked the country with his ability to raise close to $80 million to run against Cruz as well as the crowds he was able to energize.
Bernie Sanders (D) – Declared: Bernie Sanders, age 77, of Vermont, is an Independent, he announced a second run for the Democrat nomination proclaiming he is a Democrat Socialist. Within 24 hours announcing his candidacy, Sanders raised $4 million.
John Hickenlooper (D) – Declared: Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, age 67, made the long-expected announcement he is running for president in a video titled “Standing Tall”. Hickenlooper’s video announcement traces his life from laid-off geologist, to owner of a brew pub, to mayor of Denver and to governor, and touts the Democrat’s experience in a variety of fields.
Jay Inslee (D) – Declared: Washington Governor Jay Inslee, age 68, announced for President mixing calls for combating climate change and highlights of his liberal record with an aggressive critique of President Donald Trump.
Cory Booker (D) – Declared: United States Senator Cory Booker, age 49, is in his first full term representing New Jersey after winning a special election in 2013. Booker previously served as the mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 2006-2013.
Pete Buttigieg (D) – Exploratory Committee Launched: On January 23, 2019 Pete Buttigieg, age 37, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and the former Indiana state treasurer announced that he has formed an exploratory committee in order to run for president. He is an Afghan war veteran and Rhodes scholar who was first elected mayor in 2011, at age 29.
Julián Castro (D) – Declared: Julian Castro, age 44, is a former U.S. Housing and Urban Development during the Barack Obama administration and former mayor of San Antonio, Texas.
John Delaney (D) – Declared: Former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, age 55, of Maryland became the first Democrat to formally declare a 2020 candidacy for president in July 2017. Delaney co-founded health care and financial companies and served in the U.S. House from 2013 until early January 2019.
Tulsi Gabbard (D) – Declared: U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, age 37, of Hawaii has served in the U.S. House since 2013. She made her candidacy official in an announcement in February. Gabbard is a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D) – Exploratory Committee Launched: United States Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, age 52, announced on January 15 that she filed an exploratory committee. Gillibrand was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2009 after Hillary Clinton resigned to become Secretary of State and was elected in 2010 and 2016.
Kamala Harris (D) – Declared: United Sates Senator Kamala Harris, age 54, of California, announced on January 21 she is running for president. Harris is a former California Attorney General and was elected the Senate in 2016.
Amy Klobuchar (D) – Declared: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, age 58, of Minnesota, announced her candidacy and he is serving her third term and serves on the Senate Judiciary, Rules, Agriculture and Commerce committees.
Elizabeth Warren (D) – Declared: United States Senator Elizabeth Warren, age 69, of Massachusetts, announced on February 9, 2019 her candidacy. Warren lost credibility with her claim being Native American when she had a DNA testing done that revealed a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of Native American heritage, resulting in her issuing an apology to Native American activists.
Marianne Williamson (D) – Declared: Marianne Williamson, age 66, is an author and lecturer who is running for president. Considered a spiritual counselor for Oprah Winfrey, Williamson visited New Hampshire in early January.
Andrew Yang (D) – Declared: Andrew Yang, age 44, is an entrepreneur who announced his candidacy for president in the spring of 2018. He believes the federal government should provide everyone with a “Universal Basic Income.”
DEMOCRATS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
Former Vice President Joe Biden (D): Former Vice President Joe Biden, age 76, has run for President twice before. If he announces another bid, he will likely be considered the front runner. Former President Barrack Obama would be hard press not to endorse him.
Michael Bennet (D): United Stated Senator Michael Bennet, age 54, serving second term representing Colorado, serves on the Senate Finance, Agriculture and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees.
Steve Bullock (D): Montana Governor Steve Bullock, age 52, is in his second term as Montana’s Governor after serving as his state’s attorney general. Bullock is currently chairman of the National Governors Association.
Bill DeBlasio (D): New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio, age 57, is serving in his second term as Mayor the nation’s largest city. Before being elected mayor in 2013, DeBlasio was elected to three two-year terms on the New York City Council and a term as New York City Public Advocate.
John Kerry (D): John Kerry, age 75, is a former U.S. Secretary of State and former United States Senator. Kerry was the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee.
Mitch Landrieu (D): New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, age 58, was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.
Terry McAuliffe (D): Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, age 61, was chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2001-2005 and co-chaired Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign and was elected Virginia’s Governor in 2013.
Seth Moulton (D): United States Representative Seth Moulton, age 40, is in his second term representing the 6th Congressional District in Massachusetts.
Tim Ryan (D): United Sates Representative Tim Ryan, age 45, is serving in his ninth term in the U.S. House representing Northeastern Ohio. Ryan unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Nancy Pelosi for U.S. House Minority Leader in 2017.
Eric Swalwell (D): United Sates Representative Eric Swalwell, age 38, is in his fourth term representing California’s 15th Congressional District and a member of the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees.
REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
President Donald Trump (R) – Declared: Donald J. Trump, age 71, the 45th president of the United States, is running for re-election. Trump won the 2016 first-in-the-nation primary by a 35-percent to 16-percent margin over former Ohio Governor John Kasich, while other candidates trailed far behind.
William Weld (R) – Formed exploratory committee: Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, 73, was the vice-presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party, running with presidential nominee former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.
OTHER REPUBLICANS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
John Kasich (R): Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, age 66, finished second to President Donald Trump in the 2016 New Hampshire presidential primary and in the overall nomination race.
Larry Hogan (R): Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, age 62, a Republican, was elected to his second term in November and has not ruled out a run for president.
INDEPENDENTS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
Mark Cuban (I): Mark Cuban, age 49, of Texas, is an investor, entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks National Basketball Association team. He has said if he runs, he would probably do so as an independent.
Howard Schultz (I): Howard Schultz, age 65, the former chief executive officer of Starbucks, is a self-described lifelong Democrat but has said he is strongly considering running for president as an independent.