Kuwait Times

Scarred by Trump, challenger­s eyeing 2020 election run

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WASHINGTON: One year on from Donald Trump’s shock election, US Democrats are still struggling to heal the wounds of Hillary Clinton’s calamitous defeat and identify a champion to challenge a deeply unpopular president in 2020. For Democrats it has been a sobering first 10 months under Donald Trump. Republican­s control the White House and Congress. With Trump’s upset wins in once-liberal bastions Wisconsin and Michigan, the heartland is trending more conservati­ve.

But with Trump’s approval ratings in quicksand, frustratio­n has also grown among divided Republican­s. If presidenti­al tumult persists and the investigat­ion into possible collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia gets legs, Democrats may not be the only ones eyeing a White House run. As the Democratic Party of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton struggles to return to relevance, some lawmakers see the political glass half full.

The party is “more united and more energized today than it was a year ago,” Democratic Senator Chris Coons told AFP, referring to the Hillary Clinton-Bernie Sanders divide which consumed Democrats. Nearly 1,100 days before the next presidenti­al election, a Democratic shadow campaign is in full swing, with several hopefuls already visiting early-voting Iowa and New Hampshire. “There’s really no heir apparent, no figure who dominates the field,” said political science professor Chris Galdieri of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.

For Democrats seeking their political savior, another hurdle lies in the way: Reclaiming lost congressio­nal seats in next year’s midterm elections. “What happens in 2018 is important for what happens in 2020,” Senator Chris Van Hollen said. The potential presidenti­al candidates stretch into the dozens. With Clinton acknowledg­ing she is “done” being a candidate, here are the top likely contenders:

Veterans

Senator Bernie Sanders, the 2016 also-ran against Clinton, is still a player. He attends political rallies, debates Republican­s on television, and maintains a vast grassroots army.

In an October New Hampshire poll of 2020 Democratic primaries, voters put Sanders first. Popular former vice president Joe Biden, a crucial party bridge to white working-class voters, came second, and if there is a veteran Democrat waiting in the wings, it could be him. He has acknowledg­ed that his son’s death from cancer in 2015 was the sole reason he did not pursue the nomination last year. Sanders would be 79 on election day, and Biden 77.

Rebels

Firebrand Senator Elizabeth Warren, 68, would have a tangible base of support should she run. Like Sanders, she is among the party’s popular, sharp-tongued liberals. But her politics align with Sanders - she backs his universal healthcare plan. Senator Sherrod Brown is a populist flying under the radar, but he has firm progressiv­e credential­s. Being from the crucial state of Ohio, he could help Democrats win back support in the Rust Belt.

Up-and-comers

Senator Cory Booker is already a star, but there is room to grow on the national stage. A gifted speaker and champion of the poor, the youthful African-American is hailed as Obama’s heir. Kamala Harris is the new charismati­c US senator from California, a fervent supporter of immigrant and civil rights who has already courted major donors at fundraiser­s and meet-and-greets. Also in this category: Senators Chris Murphy of Connecticu­t and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Montana Governor Steve Bullock.

Celebritie­s

If Democrats want to fight Trump fire with fire, billionair­e TV icon Oprah Winfrey is their likeliest option. She has extraordin­arily deep pockets and massive name recognitio­n. Business and entertainm­ent mogul Mark Cuban and wealthy environmen­tal activist Tom Steyer are also mulling runs.

Long-shots

These are not household names, but that may change. Congressma­n John Delaney of Maryland is the first Democrat to declare his 2020 candidacy. As an economic centrist with hardscrabb­le roots who made millions starting successful businesses, he could appeal to frustrated Trumpists. Massachuse­tts congressma­n Seth Moulton is a military veteran with a Harvard business degree, and Ohio’s Tim Ryan raised his profile last year by challengin­g Nancy Pelosi for her House leadership job. Americans might want such newcomers to carry the baton, said Matt Paul, who ran Clinton’s 2016 campaign in Iowa. “I think there will be pressure and interest in a new face, a new story, someone who... energizes and builds out this base again,” he said.

And Republican­s?

Internal revolts are rarely successful, but Trump’s hostile takeover of the Republican Party has all but invited a 2020 challenge. Senators Jeff Flake and Bob Corker have announced they are not seeking re-election, freeing them up to criticize the president and possibly mount insurgent campaigns. Ohio Governor John Kasich, a 2016 candidate, has not ruled out a run. Other 2016 holdovers to watch: Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. — AFP

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US President Donald Trump

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