WASHINGTON – The 2020 presidential election may be years away, but the speculation of who will be on the Democratic ticket has already begun.
Minnesota Sen. Al Franken made a splash this year in the confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks. His fiery exchanges with then-nominees Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions drew praise from many on the left. Now his name is being floated as a potential 2020 candidate.
Politico Magazine recently published “outrageously early” field guide for 2020 which analyzed 20 potential contenders for the Democratic ticket. Franken made the list, with Politico calling him a muckraker candidate that could succeed in the primaries by holding the Trump administration accountable.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Franken is set to release his new memoir this month “Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.” But in a recent interview with People Magazine, Franken was quick to rule out any possibility of a Franken presidency.
“I got way, way, way too much to do right now to even think about that, other than to say, ‘No, I’m not going to do that,’” Franken said.
Franken’s wife, Franni, echoed Franken’s decisiveness saying the speculation was “very flattering” but he is not considering a presidential run.
“It’s kind of an affirmation that Al did exactly what he said he would do, be a work horse and not a show horse,” Franni said.
Despite the firm rejection from Franken, Minnesota could still wind up with a candidate on a presidential ticket. Many people have speculated Sen. Amy Klobuchar could make a run for the Democratic nomination. Unlike Franken, Klobuchar has not denied the possibility of a run. Earlier this month, Klobuchar spoke at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Iowa, adding to the talk that she might be gearing up for a run.
