On Monday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), widely considered a primary contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, refused to say whether former vice president Joe Biden — another strong contender — is the “most qualified” person to be president.
“I’ll be straight with you as I can. I think I’m the most qualified person in the country to be president,” Biden said in a speech Monday night, unleashing speculation about a potential 2020 presidential run.
When asked about Biden’s statement, Warren praised the former vice president. “I think that the vice president has many wonderful qualities and I’m glad to hear that he’s out and talking about it,” the senator said.
“What is your time frame for making a decision?” a reporter asked.
“Pocahontas” dodged that question as well.
“I said that I would l would take a hard look after the election, and I’m doing exactly that right now,” she replied.
Polls have placed Warren and Biden in the lead, although speculation has also surrounded former Texas Senate candidate Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and more.
In announcing his own withdrawal from the 2020 race, lawyer Michael Avenatti suggested that most of the major Democrat contenders have not been “battletested,” and therefore “have no real chance at winning” against President Donald Trump. Biden would certainly count as “battletested,” having run for the presidency multiple times before.
Warren seems less so, but she has the fire to face Trump, who has branded her “Pocahontas,” riffing off of her claim to native American heritage.
It remains to be seen whether Warren or Biden even jumps into the 2020 race, but it seems a confrontation between them is quite probable. Perhaps Warren wants to reserve her invective for the time when it’s absolutely necessary.
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