Page 4 - aruba-today-20190129

A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 29 January 2019

Dems fear Trump re-election if ex-Starbucks CEO Schultz runs

By GENE JOHNSON and "The data was very clear
STEVE PEOPLES and very consistent. Given
Associated Press the strong pull of partisan-
SEATTLE (AP) — Some of the ship and the realities of the
most influential forces in electoral college system,
Democratic politics revolt- there is no way an indepen-
ed Monday against former dent can win. That is truer
Starbucks CEO Howard today than ever before,"
Schultz's prospective presi- Bloomberg, who is consid-
dential bid, insisting that an ering a Democratic 2020
independent run would un- bid, said in a statement.
intentionally help President He continued: "In 2020, the
Donald Trump win another great likelihood is that an
four years in office. independent would just
The critics included the split the anti-Trump vote
Democratic chairman of and end up re-electing the
Schultz's home state, anoth- president. That's a risk I re-
er billionaire businessman fused to run in 2016 and we
who long flirted with an in- can't afford to run it now."
dependent run of his own, The angry voices were far
former President Barack and wide, and they includ-
Obama's chief strategist, ed Obama's former chief
and the most powerful su- In this March 22, 2017, file photo, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks at the Starbucks annual strategist, David Axelrod,
per PAC in Democratic shareholders meeting in Seattle. along with Democrats from
politics. Associated Press Schultz's home state.
"If Schultz entered the race "If Schultz decides to run as
as an independent, we ocrats fear that Schultz advisers dispute the notion tz's private conversations. an independent," Axelrod
would consider him a tar- would almost certainly split that an independent can- Schultz addressed his pros- tweeted, Trump "should
get... We would do every- their vote and give Trump didate would automati- pects in a video posted on give Starbucks their Trump
thing we can to ensure that an easier path to re-elec- cally bolster Trump's pros- social media Monday. Tower space rent free! It
his candidacy is unsuccess- tion. Yet Democrats con- pects in 2020, arguing that "At this time in America would be a gift."
ful," said Patrick McHugh, cede that they had few there are enough Demo- when there's so much evi- Tina Podlodowski, the
executive director of Priori- tools to dissuade Schultz crats and Republicans dis- dence that our political sys- Democratic chairwoman
ties USA, which spent near- from launching an inde- gruntled with their parties tem is broken — that both in Washington state, where
ly $200 million in the 2016 pendent campaign — as to propel a third-party bid. parties at the extreme are Schultz has lived for de-
presidential contest. he told CBS' "60 Minutes" on Schultz is being advised by not representing the silent cades, discouraged him
Specifically, he seized on Sunday he was considering a team with experience majority of the American from running as an inde-
Schultz's apparent willing- — though many were skep- in both parties, including people — isn't there a bet- pendent.
ness to cut entitlement pro- tical that he would actually Steve Schmidt, who worked ter way?" Schultz said, not- "A billionaire buying his way
grams such as Medicare follow through. on Republican John Mc- ing that he'd be traveling out of the entire primary
and Social Security to nar- Shultz plans to spend Cain's 2008 presidential the country in the coming process does not strength-
row the federal deficit. the next month traveling campaign, and Bill Burton, weeks and months meet- en democracy," she said.
"The bottom line," McHugh around the country — in a Democrat who worked ing with voters. "It only makes it more likely
said, "is that I don't think part promoting a new book for President Barack "And what better expres- that our democracy will
Americans are looking for — to test whether there's Obama. Schultz's team sion of our democracy be further strained under
another selfish billionaire to interest in an independent also includes Republican than to give the American another four years of Presi-
enter the race." presidential candidate, ac- pollster Greg Strimple, GOP people a choice that they dent Donald Trump."
The pushback in the early cording to a person familiar strategist Brooks Kochvar, deserve." Perhaps trying to elevate
days of the 2020 cam- with his planning. However, and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Yet history — and the re- Schultz, who is not well
paign reflects the intensity the former Starbucks CEO a former journalist who has ality of a political system known among Democratic
Democrats are bringing to may not make a final deci- worked closely with Schultz designed to favor major primary voters, Trump him-
the race. The party is singu- sion on running until the fall, since 2015. party candidates — sug- self weighed in on Mon-
larly focused on retaking when the direction of the Schultz has discussed with gests that Schultz may do day, tweeting that Schultz
the White House and anx- Democratic primary may his team how much of his little more than play spoiler "doesn't have the 'guts' to
ious about any hurdle that be somewhat clearer. own money he's willing to should he decide to run. run for President!"
would prevent them from Schultz's team has polled on plunge into a campaign, Bloomberg, who studied The 65-year-old Seattle bil-
seizing on Trump's unpopu- the viability of a third party though the person familiar the possibility of an inde- lionaire launched a tour
larity. run and believes there is an with his planning would not pendent run of his own in Monday to promote his lat-
While no independent has opening, though they have disclose the amount. That the past, offered Schultz a est book, "From the Ground
won the presidency since not shared the specifics of person insisted on anonym- direct message based on Up: A Journey to Reimagine
George Washington, Dem- their internal surveys. His ity in order to discuss Schul- his own experience. the Promise of America." q