Sanders camp quietly pushes Khanna presidential bid

[brooklynite]

Politico

Top figures from Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign are privately encouraging Ro Khanna to run for president in 2024 if Joe Biden doesn’t seek a second term, giving the California congressman an important stamp of approval from progressives as the party looks to its post-Biden future.

Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ former presidential campaign manager, and Mark Longabaugh, a senior adviser to Sanders during his 2016 bid, have both urged Khanna to consider a campaign in the event Biden declines to run again, according to a person familiar with their discussions.

Democratic officeholders are reluctant to speak publicly about their ambitions in a potential open race in 2024 out of concern that they could undermine the president, who has said he plans to campaign for a second term if he is in good health. There are also sensitivities surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris, who is atop the list of possible candidates but faces skepticism from some party insiders who fear she cannot win a general election.

But a growing list of Democratic governors, senators and House members are turning their attention to the possibility of a primary in two years that doesn’t include Biden, given the president’s advanced age and dismal approval ratings. Roughly half of Americans don’t expect Biden, now 79, will run for a second term, according to a recent Wall Street Journal poll.

[MineralMan]

1. That, Right There, Is a Dead End

If they go down that road, they will have to turn around and come back the same way to get anywhere.

That, of course, is my opinion, as is everything I write here about the future.

[bullimiami]

4. Agree.

[JoeOtterbein]

86. Like it or not, the writer of the Politico article...

...knows her stuff!

[JustAnotherGen]

2. That's dumb of them to do

[Maru Kitteh]

3. That's idiotic.

Truly.

[JohnSJ]

5. What a stupid divisive thing to do at this time when we need unity more than ever. No surprise

though, seeing where it is coming from.

It was just a few weeks ago Ro Khanna was pushing concerns against "lethal aid" to Ukraine. Khanna is quiet about that now.

Ironic how some on the left also have the same view about NATO as trump.

Memories are short, and I suspect that will slip under the radar

[gibraltar72]

13. It is only giving us information we need.

I am not offended by knowledge.

[JohnSJ]

22. Really? With everything that is going on now, three years before 2024, this is

"information we need"?

[gibraltar72]

27. I can handle knowing this is happening.

I am actually thankful to know what goes on "behind the scenes". That's just me. I don't find it harmful.

[JohnSJ]

28. Of course, each us only speak for our personal views. That is why it is good to have this forum

[gibraltar72]

29. Kinda my point.

Take what information that is helpful from each OP. Or don't take any.

[TheProle]

79. Well said all around

Thank you

[Budi]

37. K & R . There's an agenda...

S.i.l.i.c.o.n. V.a.l.l.e.y.
Millionares & Billionares
Protecting their own interests from regulations by our Dem leaders in DC.

There's a whole backstory that really should be posted but, ya know.

Thanks for your truth post 💙

[JohnSJ]

40. His association and donations from Peter Thiel make him suspect in my book

[JustAnotherGen]

63. The Thiel connection is why I have

A hard time trusting what he says.

[Beastly Boy]

6. Well, that's one way to deflect attention from the right wingers' refusal to oppose Putin.

Give them Khanna to point their finger at. I am sure they will appreciate the effort, since they are having difficulty doing so themselves.

[Cartoonist]

7. I thought people learned from their mistakes.

Bernie did this before. He said Obama should be primaried. That cost him the black vote, and hence his run for the presidency.

[AZProgressive]

10. This isn't about a primary challenge

They are considering this in the event Biden doesn’t run and we have a full primary. I think Biden will run again so I think the issue is moot.

[Cartoonist]

17. He is doing harm.

Unless Biden screws up, he should have the full support of all Democrats. He hasn't screwed up, but by putting forward a replacement, even speculatively, undermines him.

[AZProgressive]

20. This is from Weaver who was a Sanders aide

I don’t think Bernie Sanders is personally pushing this.

[JohnSJ]

23. and you don't think Weaver is not following Sanders' views?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

54. It clearly states IF BIDEN DOESN'T RUN.

Nobody, and I repeat loudly for those in the back of the room, NOBODY, is saying Biden should be primaried in this article.

[Cartoonist]

88. It is still underminig

It does not show support for Biden.

[Demsrule86]

8. Really, why they want more losing?

[AZProgressive]

9. This is only in the event Biden doesn't run again

Personally I prefer AOC but that is way down the road. I think Biden runs again.

[uponit7771]

25. How dismissive is it to ignore the female PoC that's in the VP position?!?!

[AZProgressive]

26. I think Harris will likely win the next open primary

She would easily win South Carolina and a lot of the Southern States.

[Bettie]

32. I agree and why?

Why do they automatically dismiss her?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

55. Because they want someone further to the left?

Or isn't that allowed?

[Bettie]

69. It's allowed

though Elizabeth Warren was farther to the left than Harris. Strange though, people found that they didn't like her either.

The song is the same each time..."I'm open to a woman, but not THAT woman".

The secret is that any woman becomes "that woman" eventually.

We will likely never have a woman as president. Misogyny is too deeply rooted.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

73. I hope that we have a woman for president, but I fear you are right.

I would have loved to vote for Warren. I don't think she is up to running again, but I could be wrong.

[Autumn]

85. She did not do well in the primaries at all. Her campaign was riddled with problems.

The 2020 Democratic field has been defined by its turbulence, with some contenders rising, others dropping out and two more jumping in just this month. Yet there is only one candidate who rocketed to the top tier and then plummeted in early state polls to the low single digits: Ms. Harris.

From those polling results to Ms. Harris’s campaign operation, fund-raising and debate performances, it has been a remarkable comedown for a senator from the country’s largest state, a politician with star power who was compared to President Obama even before Californians elected her to the Senate in 2016.

Yet, even to some Harris allies, her decline is more predictable than surprising. In one instance after another, Ms. Harris and her closest advisers made flawed decisions about which states to focus on, issues to emphasize and opponents to target, all the while refusing to make difficult personnel choices to impose order on an unwieldy campaign, according to more than 50 current and former campaign staff members and allies, most of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose private conversations and assessments involving the candidate.

Representative Marcia Fudge, who has endorsed Ms. Harris and is a former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in an interview that the senator was an exceptional candidate who had been poorly served by some top staff and who must fire Mr. Rodriguez. But she also acknowledged that Ms. Harris bore a measure of responsibility for her problems — “it’s her campaign” — and that the structure she created has not served her well.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/us/politics/kamala-harris-2020.html

[JustAnotherGen]

64. +1

[Wingus Dingus]

11. I'd like to see some governors run.

Jared Polis, Andy Beshear, Gretchen Whitmer.

[mcar]

75. If Biden doesn't run, our excellent VP is the front-runner

This dismissing of an experienced, highly qualified WoC is disturbing.

[Polybius]

81. She did terrible in the 2020 primaries

She won't be the front runner in either 2024 or 2028.

[mcar]

83. She's the Vice President of the United States

of course she will be the front-runner in 2024.

[Polybius]

89. I think Biden will be the front-runner in 2024

2028 will be the real mystery.

[mcar]

91. If Biden doesn't run, of course.

[Wingus Dingus]

82. I didn't dismiss her. But just as Biden had to earn his

nomination against other primary opponents (including Harris), she will too.

[Ocelot II]

12. Who?

Great idea - push somebody that only people who watch MSNBC late at night have heard of. I had to rack my brain for a bit to even remember who that is. I swear, there's a faction of the party that must be comprised of political masochists who set themselves up to lose because that warm fuzzy sense of being aggrieved feels so good.

[AZProgressive]

14. Bernie Sanders was unknown before he ran

The more people got to know him the more votes he got.

As someone who voted for Sanders twice I wouldn’t vote for Ro Khanna. I’m sure there would be a different progressive in the primary that I would rather vote for.

[Ocelot II]

15. And Bernie lost twice, thank God or whoever's in charge.

[AZProgressive]

16. He did well considering the name recognition Biden and Hillary Clinton have

[Ocelot II]

19. My point is simply that another obscure progressive who manages to become less obscure

is just as unlikely to win a presidential primary, let alone a general election, as Bernie was.

[AZProgressive]

21. I always felt it was more difficult to win the Democratic Primary

Than the general election. There is a rule against fighting the last primary and it is too soon for me to debate the next primary.

Ro Khanna is definitely not my first choice though.

[Budi]

52. I'd like to see the redacted part of Mueller's report that named Sanders & Trump as beneficiaries.

We deserve to know what followed that one line.

[AZProgressive]

57. Do you mean social media campaigns?

Usually sources & methods are redacted. I still see Russian active measures on Twitter but they are not supportive of Bernie Sanders. I think they were more interested in causing chaos & divisions while pushing pro Russia talking points.

Sanders warns Russia to stay out of US presidential campaign

(Snip)

Sanders said he was briefed about a month ago. His campaign noted the briefing was classified.

“We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign,” Sanders told reporters. “Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections.”

“What they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doing – and I’ve seen some of their tweets and stuff – is they try to divide us up,” he said. “They are trying to cause chaos. They’re trying to cause hatred in America.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/22/sanders-warns-russia-to-stay-out-of-us-presidential-campaign

He is 100% correct. The Russian trolls are very toxic.

[Budi]

60. Well, he would know. In his security level govt position, I mean.

I'd happily cherry pick some statements too...but ya know how that goes!..

Later.

[Retrograde]

41. Representative from the district that abuts mine

I don't know of anyone in his district complaining about him, but then they don't talk about him at all.

[relayerbob]

18. Typical

[uponit7771]

24. So fuckin sexist and racist at the same time to dismiss the person who is in the VP position. It's

... a typical trope to act as if the person of color or woman doesn't want a position.

I wish the reports of this and the actions like this would stop, it's a no go from get

[Peacetrain]

31. THIS! THIS! THIS

[Budi]

34. So looks like we're ok with Big Corporate Millionares & Billionares now?

Silicon Valley has no love for the Dems in DC who they've been fighting against, with all the power that Big Corporate Money has, as the Dems have tried to implement regulations on that self-protected class of tech billionares.

Silicon Valley sees Ro Khanna as their man in DC. Silicon Valley needs to be busted up, & start with Trumper, Libertarian, Peter Thiel.

Yes, it was Silicon Valley that gave Khanna his start. And fully backed Donald Trump from 2016 thru today.
The backstory on his rise is chilling.

[Retrograde]

43. Is this the same Silicon Valley

uthat cast more votes against Trump in 2020 then there are people in Wyoming? And has consistently sent a slate of Democratic reps to Congress?

Your vision of Silicon Valley seems to consist solely of the heads of the large corporations. There are about 2 million people living here who staff those corporations, provide the service jobs, and support the infrastructure. And these are overwhelmingly Democratic voters. And for all their billions, Thiel, Zuckerberg, and their ilk only don't get any more votes per capita as the people who deliver their Uber Eats orders.

[Budi]

51. You missed the point. Its the power of their billions & influence in buying the Presidency to suit..

...to suit their agenda.
Its the power of purchase & influence.
Has nothing to do with the votes from SV itself.
Their money & influence is a far greater reach than the votes in that one area they call home.

Millionares & Billionares of Silicon Valley.
Peter Thiel is a libertarian like the Kochs. He & his fellow SV influencers stood firm behind Trump for a reason.

[brooklynite]

42. Not sexist or racist; ideological

Consider the current NYS Governor Primary. Jumaane Williams is running against the incumbent female Governor (who has abley filled the role after the chaos of Andrew Cuomo). Its not a sexism thing; its this OUR REVOLUTION/JUSTICE DEMOCRATS mantra that we need to replace perfectly responsible mainstream Democrats with "real" progressives.

[uponit7771]

45. Gas lighting is rude, this is text book dismissal of Harris as POTUS

[Budi]

46. How's his record on foreign policy? Cuz we have a VP ready to step in where Biden leaves off.

Should Biden run or not in 24, VP is well prepared to carry his torch.

SHE is our President to follow Joe Biden, & carry on when & where he leaves off.

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

71. If President Joe Biden does not run, I will be supporting MVP Harris

I think that Joe will be running in 2024.

I am not fans of Justice Democrats and I doubt that I would support any Justice Democrat in the primaries

[mcar]

76. If Biden doesn't run, VP Harris has my support

No need for a costly and divisive primary; there is too much at stake.

[AZProgressive]

48. This is in the event Biden doesn't run

There is no one to replace in an open primary. I don’t support Ro Khanna but I would have expected you to read your own OP unlike the vast majority of posters in this thread.

Progressives have a right to run and a primary shouldn’t be given to Harris simply because she is VP.

[Budi]

53. Wow. So now "Millionares & Big Corporate Billionares" are cool again?

Better update those old campaign slogans before 2024!

[AZProgressive]

59. LOL not backing Ro Khanna

It is somewhat personal for me. After I tweeted at Delaney who wanted to debate AOC Ro Khanna followed me and invited me to private Twitter group called All of US 2020 which was used to promote Tweets. Apparently he followed a lot of Bernie supporters and invited them to this group. Shortly after the primary ended he unfollowed a lot of us so I unfollowed him back. At least Klobuchar still follows me.

[Budi]

65. Wow. So much for fair weather friends, huh.

Honestly, the data on his financials, his alignment with those who are anything but progressive for average people, maybe progressive for his SV techs, but not the average American, is so out of sync with the words he claims, & his regular appearances on Fox are just too much to buy, especially after all we know about media manipulation.
We have got to do the research ourselves.

I'd like to post the reserched material on him, but its unfortunately, not allowed. Ya know.
We just gotta look for it ourselves anymore.

ick.

[betsuni]

80. Same way "Millionaires and billionaires" suddenly became just "billionaires," wonder if

that one will disappear too. "Oligarchs" sounds nice and diabolical for 2024 slogan.

[Budi]

87. Be a millionare, write a book!

Yeehaw..
Everybody gets a book deal 🤪

[brooklynite]

58. I was responding to the prior claim in the thread (#24)...

So fuckin sexist and racist at the same time to dismiss the person who is in the VP position.

I have no philosophical objection to anyone running for President or any other office. I DO have a political objection to promoting candidates with an ideological bent that's not likely going to appeal to the broad electorate.

[AZProgressive]

61. It depends

When it comes to young voters and what I mean by that is 40 or younger find the progressives to be more mainstream. Someone like Biden is probably mainstream for the older voters on this board but not so much for the younger people such as his marijuana stance which is unpopular and out of the mainstream.

Your objection would make sense if the Democrats were undefeated before the young progressives showed up.

[brooklynite]

67. The "young progressives" have not, from what I see, added to Democratic officeholders...

...they seem to spend their time targeting other Democrats in safe seats.

Add to which, they still have a strikingly poor record of actually showing up to vote.

[AZProgressive]

70. The nearest Progressive is Raul Grijalva with the most missed votes in 2020

It is too soon in the year for 2021 stats.

Barbara Lee who is the most progressive in Congress is up there with fewest votes missed. She isn’t young but Tlaib doesn’t miss a lot of votes.

Cortez doesn’t miss a lot of votes either.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2020/party-house-democrat/missed-votes

Gabbard is up there with the missed most votes but she is mostly right wing.

Sanders did miss a lot of votes in 2020 but I’m sure the numbers are similar for other Presidential candidates

[Budi]

66. Appealing to the broad electorate will demand truth in messaging, media & so far that's a bust.

I'm looking for substance over slogan.
Ya know?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

56. Nobody says she doesn't. And Khanna is Indian, so no clue how it's racist.

The people that are to the left of Harris want someone running for President that is left of Harris. It's pretty simple.

[uponit7771]

77. Khanna isn't doing the dismissing in this context anyone proffering he run against Harris is !!!!!!

WYF !!?!

It's misinformed that the people who are left of Harris are that much more left than she is

Shit I would think that's some GOP propaganda bullshit being profit here on DU

Looking at her record and looking at what she ran on she's pretty much damn left.

This is usual racist bullshit and misogynist bullshit passing by people who are already in that position are qualified and going mostly to a man or somebody else that they think should be there

[JohnSJ]

62. As far as I am concerned if Joe decided not to run, I will be supporting Harris, who is being

groomed for the job.

That being said, I truly believe Joe will run and win in 2024

We are very fortunate to have him at this time

[Budi]

68. True. Considering the current state of the world powers, I would demad the candidate reveal...

..reveal some substancial foreign policy experience. Especially when strengthening our unity of NATO.

Better come with more than crafted slogans & trending quotes.

[JohnSJ]

74. +++

[uponit7771]

78. +1, so will the majority of the Democratic party. I'm thinking this bullshit is trial balloons

[Samrob]

30. Joe has done everything he could to help this country save itself. He is tired but an eager Patriot

I hope is does retire. And I hope KH gets appointed to the SCOTUS or HRC. That would complete his tenure if possible. I would like to see Schiff make a run for it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

33. Does this mean that the Justice Democrats are not planning on running Sanders in 2024?

I will be supporting Joe in 2024

Link to tweet

[FakeNoose]

47. +1000

[LetMyPeopleVote]

72. I seriously doubt that Sanders will be running in 2024

[Sur Zobra]

35. I've only heard him on Thom Hartmann's

radio show. He is the master of the non answer.

[Budi]

36. He's a regular on Fox as well. But who watches Fox. Oh wait...

Perhaps Politico can run a story on the background of Mr Khanna, Peter Thiel & Silicon Valley.

I can point them to one already compiled, but even Politico couldn't whitewash it enough to print to their standards.
I look forward for the backstory to be revealed by actual research journos.

It's pretty awful.
🤭

[Me.]

38. You Beat Me To It

Well not worried...this is another AS If situation.

[LiberalFighter]

39. Who the hell is he? And Sanders needs to button his lips.

[katmondoo]

44. I don't support Sanders or his pick for President. He has disappointed me in the past.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

49. " ..if Joe Biden doesn't seek a second term"

I have no problem with encouraging anyone to look at running on a contingency basis.

[JI7]

50. Ugh

[JoeOtterbein]

84. K n R!!!

Thanks for posting! We need news about progressives. They are our base. And will be in November and 2024. Despite what some people feel about them.

[Polybius]

90. The better question is, who will both Party's run in 2028

Win or lose in 2024, it won't be Trump or Biden in 2028.