Only hours after the midterm elections, on Wednesday morning, NBC’s Today show was already looking to the 2020 presidential campaign, eager to discuss which Democrats were “getting serious about taking on President Trump.” In addition to some of the usual names, the report also touted Democrats who went down to defeat on Tuesday as “future stars” of the party.
Declaring that “the countdown does start today” for the 2020 presidential election, White House Correspondent Kristen Welker wondered: “The question now, who is getting serious about taking on President Trump?” She highlighted: “Some Democrats who sailed to victory overnight sparked fresh speculation that they’re already eying the battle ahead, setting their sights on President Trump.”
After listing liberal Senators Bernie Sanders, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Elizabeth Warren as possible 2020 candidates, Welker claimed that “even some of the candidates who came up short aren’t being counted out.” She then promoted losing candidates that Democrats – and the media – fawned over throughout the campaign:
Instead, getting buzz as future stars of the Democratic Party, including Beto O’Rourke, who put up a tough fight against incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in Texas....And Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who went down in defeat in his battle for Florida governor, but keeping the fighting spirit.
ABC’s Good Morning America similarly boosted O’Rourke as someone bringing Democrats “hope for 2020.”
“The question now for Democrats, who could actually beat President Trump?,” the reporter posed. She observed: “Tuesday’s mixed results raising questions about whether progressive Democrats could win in crucial swing states like Florida or whether more mainstream Democrats, like Joe Biden, still toying with a run of his own, might fare better.”
After talking about the Democrats that may run in 2020, Welker pushed the idea of a possible Republican primary challenge to Trump:
Now, as for potential Republican challengers, seems like a steep climb, but there is some speculation that Ohio Governor John Kasich could be eyeing the possibility of taking on Mr. Trump. And then there’s outgoing Republican Senator Jeff Flake. He’s of course a frequent Trump critic who hasn’t closed the door to the possibility in public comments.
Co-host Savannah Guthrie chimed in: “Senator Flake of Arizona was on our air last night. And not only did he not close the door, he left it open a little bit. So we’ll see if there’s a primary challenge for the President in 2020.”
Only Democratic politicians can lose races and have the liberal media tout them as presidential contenders.
Here is a full transcript of Welker’s November 7 report:
7:43 AM ET
HODA KOTB: Back now, 7:43, with more of our midterm coverage, The Vote: America’s Future. The dust has just settled from the midterms, but this morning, it’s already full steam ahead for the next big campaign.
CRAIG MELVIN: Today sounds the starting gun for the 2020 battle for the White House. NBC White House Correspondent Kristen Welker is taking a look at that. Hard to believe, but it’s true, apparently. Kristen, good morning.
KRISTEN WELKER: It is true. Good morning, Craig, Savannah, and Hoda. You are right, now that the midterms are over, the countdown does start today, basically, for that next major contest, the 2020 presidential election. 726 days, by the way, but who’s counting, right? The question now, who is getting serious about taking on President Trump?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Let the Race for 2020 Begin!; With Midterms Over, Focus Turns to White House]
This morning, 2020 vision? Some Democrats who sailed to victory overnight sparked fresh speculation that they’re already eying the battle ahead, setting their sights on President Trump. From former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders...
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS [I-VT]: We have a President of the United States who is a pathological liar.
WELKER: ...to New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIGRAND [D-NY]: Because the President needs to be held accountable.
WELKER: And progressive firebrand Elizabeth Warren.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN [D-MA]: Donald Trump still practices the dark art of ruling by fear.
WELKER: And then there’s former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who raised eyebrows after releasing this ad right before Election Day.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: I’ve supported candidates from both sides, but at this moment, we must send a signal to Republicans in Washington that they have failed to lead.
WELKER: Setting up a potential match-up between two New York City billionaires. But even some of the candidates who came up short aren’t being counted out. Instead, getting buzz as future stars of the Democratic Party, including Beto O’Rourke, who put up a tough fight against incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in Texas.
REP. BETO O’ROURKE [D-TX]: We will see you out there down the road!
WELKER: And Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who went down in defeat in his battle for Florida governor, but keeping the fighting spirit.
ANDREW GILLUM: I can guarantee you this, I’m not going anywhere.
WELKER: The question now for Democrats, who could actually beat President Trump? Tuesday’s mixed results raising questions about whether progressive Democrats could win in crucial swing states like Florida or whether more mainstream Democrats, like Joe Biden, still toying with a run of his own, might fare better.
As for the President, administration officials tell NBC News he feels emboldened heading into 2020, despite failing to flip Senate seats in key midwestern states that he carried in 2016. And those officials say he has no regrets about his hardline stance on immigration.
KELLYANNE CONWAY: His message for 2020 are his accomplishments as president, that is the best message that he’ll have.
MELVIN: Alright, so Kristen, we saw Gillum there, we saw O’Rourke, you mentioned Bloomberg. Who else might be in, in 2020?
WELKER: Well, Craig, look, buzz is growing around some Democratic names who weren’t on the ballot. Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, they’re two stand-outs on the Senate Judiciary Committee. And of course, former Vice President Joe Biden. Remember, he considered running back in 2016. He ultimately decided not to.
Now, as for potential Republican challengers, seems like a steep climb, but there is some speculation that Ohio Governor John Kasich could be eyeing the possibility of taking on Mr. Trump. And then there’s outgoing Republican Senator Jeff Flake. He’s of course a frequent Trump critic who hasn’t closed the door to the possibility in public comments.
Now, no one has said that they definitively want to run, but it’s worth noting that a lot of those names I just mentioned had visited early voting states like Iowa. Craig, guys, back to you.
MELVIN: Alright, Kristen Welker at the White House.
GUTHRIE: Senator Flake of Arizona was on our air last night.
MELVIN: That’s right, Chuck Todd.
GUTHRIE: And not only did he not close the door, he left it open a little bit. So we’ll see if there’s a primary challenge for the President in 2020. There’ll be a lot of Democrats running, that’s for sure.
