WASHINGTON – Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) rejected the notion that the Democratic Party needs another candidate for president such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) or former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“As Vice President Biden’s campaign shows growing signs of weakness, people are fretting about the current frontrunners trying to convince people like Sen. Sherrod Brown or Secretary Clinton or Michael Bloomberg that there is something to be gained from having maybe 20, 21 or 22 people running for president instead of today’s 18 or is it 19? I’m not sure. I am losing count. Look, I get that,” Booker said during a newsmakers event at the National Press Club on Wednesday.
“To me, this election is about as serious as it is personal, but this is the most historically diverse Democratic field in the history of our country. I have felt such incredible pride being on a debate stage just last week in fact alongside an incredibly talented and diverse field — a black woman, a gay man; more women than have ever stood on a presidential debate stage at the same time, heck, there was even a billionaire up there,” he added.
Booker continued, “Democrats do not need more candidates in this primary. We have great candidates already. What we need is the right candidate to emerge from this primary to unite our party and defeat Donald Trump and I’m confident that I’m that candidate.”
Booker said he is the best candidate to unite progressives and moderates in the Democratic Party.
“So to those Democrats who are looking for an alternative right now, I want to make the case today very directly that, look no further. I can and have excited a diverse coalition of voters,” he said. “I can and have united progressives and moderates and I will not divide this party and drag others down in personal attacks for the sake of winning a short-term polling boost. We need to keep the long view in mind.”
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