Barack Obama’s 2020 election signals have given Democrats the jitters, especially those who feel it’s too soon in the presidential race to push for a particular candidate, like top advisers and aides to the former president are pushing former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
Democratic strategists say it’s way too early to settle on a candidate and some wonder if Obama’s inner circle would be pushing Patrick if the former president didn’t agree.
Some believe it’s an attempt to divert attention from new California Sen. Kamala Harris, who many Democrats want to carry on the Obama legacy.
Harris and Patrick are African-Americans.
David Simas, CEO of Obama’s foundation, is a strong supporter of Patrick, The Hill said, and Valerie Jarrett, a close Obama confidante, reportedly revealed that she would do everything in her power to support the former governor.
Jarrett told Politico that “President Patrick is what my heart desires,” while a former senior White House aide said that, “if you were to poll 100 notable Obama alumni, the only two people who would win that 2020 straw poll right now are Joe Biden and Patrick.”
Biden also garners support among Obama aides – a number have said they would support the former vice president if he were to enter the 2020 race – but Patrick seems to have been singled out as a favorite.
One top Obama fundraiser told The Hill it was no coincidence that Obama’s inner circle are shouting out Patrick, saying it’s “blatantly overt.”
“Kamala has labeled herself as the female Obama, but Deval was Obama before Obama was Obama,” the fundraiser said.
"There is little appetite in the party to settle on a candidate early," The Hill quoted Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons.
"I want to see a wide open a process where there are no front runners," Democratic strategist Jim Manley also was quoted. "The idea that anyone is out there pushing for one person or another is a mistake."
According to The Hill, many Democrats and Republicans believe the 2020 race will be wide open, and even can see dozens of Democrats running for the party's presidential nomination.
Sen. Bernie Sanders has signaled his continued interest and is attending two events on Monday in New Hampshire.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is a potential frontrunner should she choose to enter the race.
"Party insiders don't have a great track record of picking successful Democratic nominees," said Simmons,per The Hill. "They didn't pick Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton or Barack Obama."