Democrats hope some presidential candidates drop out -- and run for Senate

[DonViejo]

BY ALEXANDER BOLTON - 06/10/19 06:00 AM EDT

Democrats facing a steep uphill climb to win back the Senate want Beto O’Rourke to reconsider his long-shot bid for president and take another look at running for the Senate in Texas, especially if his White House bid fails to pick up momentum.

They feel the same way about two other White House hopefuls who are polling at around 1 percent or lower: former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. Political experts give O’Rourke, Bullock and Hickenlooper little chance of winning the White House but say they could give GOP incumbents in their states a run for the money.

If they don’t run, Democrats will have a slimmer chance of winning in the states and taking back the Senate majority in either 2020 or 2022. And that would hamper a Democratic president — if the party can defeat President Trump.

Democratic senators won’t call out the low-polling presidential candidates by name in public, but they’re not shy about making the argument that some would do more for their party in Senate races than in the crowded presidential fight.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/447521-democrats-hope-some-presidential-candidates-drop-out-and-run-for-senate

[Funtatlaguy]

1. Yep, and wish Abrams would change her mind in Georgia.

[dalton99a]

2. They have every right to run for whatever office they want

just like everyone else running

[rampartc]

3. they could be promised committee assignments if they win

or cabinet appointments if they lose.

the 1% candidates are not going to be president, but they could be great senators.

[Indygram]

4. I'll just leave this here...

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[dalton99a]

5. Precisely.

Typical “get off my lawn” bullshit

People can stay for as long as they want and as long as they can afford.

[thesquanderer]

9. I'm more concerned about senate positions than governorships.

That said, I think it's too early for anyone to be jumping out on this basis. At least wait to see if any of their polling numbers start to move after a couple of debates.

[Wounded Bear]

6. I'm sure many of them will...

since many of them are Senators, who don't necessarily need to start their run to hold their seat until next Spring, I'm not sure that running for pres this year hurts them. If nothing else, it helps their national profile and strengthens their positions for re-election.

Methinks they do protest too much.

I suspect the field will start winnowing out this summer.

[MineralMan]

7. Some Democrats hope that, anyhow.

Not all, and maybe not even a majority of Democrats.

The Primary race is also a great place for people to make a splash in name recognition. Even if some don't really stand a chance of winning the Nomination, odds are that some of those knew that from the start, and are running for various other reasons, including a switch to running for a different office before the 2020 election.

It's very early days, still, and some of those candidates who nobody ever heard of outside their own states are gaining some national attention and notice right now. That can't hurt them, should they choose, in the end, to run for some other office. There are names in the presidential primary I really didn't know before now. I do recognize those name today.

[wildflower]

8. There is a woman already running for Senate in Texas

Her name is MJ Hegar.

You can support her here: https://www.mjfortexas.com/