Apparently Donald Trump spends a lot of time behind the Resolute Desk drinking his Diet Coke and projecting himself into the 2020 election, where he imagines himself as omniscient and unbeatable against the likes of “too old” Bernie Sanders and “Pocahantas” Elizabeth Warren. Politico:
Handicapping potential 2020 challengers — however premature the exercise is — has become a favorite pastime for the competitive president, who still regularly rehashes his shock win in the 2016 race.
“He’s always asking people, ‘Who do you think is going to run against me?’” said the Republican who heard the president’s assessment in December.
Despite a bumpy first year and historically low approval ratings, this Trump ally said: “I don’t think he sees anyone, right now, being a serious competitor.”
Except joe Biden:
One former White House official outlined a theory of the case that has gained some traction: Trump’s policies will continue to be popular all the way through his reelection campaign, but his approval rating will never crack 45 percent — creating an opening for Biden, or someone like him, to recapture the loyalty of white Rust Belt Democrats who helped elect Trump in 2016.
“What we can’t let voters do is think they can get the same policies with someone they like better, like Joe Biden — someone who would fight for them but who doesn’t have the crass edge,” said the former White House staffer. “I hope CNN has Kirsten Gillibrand on every minute of every day. Love it. Bring it. She's easy to destroy. If you're the president, or the RNC, you're more worried about someone who looks like Biden — someone who has more mainstream appeal, who blue-collar workers could identity with.”
Incredibly, Newt Gingrich seems to be oblivious to Trump Russia and all the other incendiary news of the day because he’s quite confident.
“I have no favorite Democratic candidate,” said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an outside adviser to Trump. “If the economy is good, Trump wins easily. If the economy is bad, he has a tough time. Our side should focus on substance and then plan to beat whoever stumbles out of their process.”
It goes without saying that Democrats need to keep their eyes on the prize, which is right in front of us, retaking the House this year. However, the long game of 2020 must not be ignored. Time passes quickly, even in this madhouse era of Trump when it can’t be soon enough to see him go.