Whatever you may think of the Tangerine Tornado, the reality is that somebody will oppose him four years hence. Who will that be? Here is your handy BusinessGhost guide to handicapping the 2020 Democratic Race – candidates followed by my odds of them winning the nomination.
Alec Baldwin, 75-1. How great would it be to have Alec Baldwin, playing Trump, against the real Donald Trump in debates? The surrealism would be delightful.
Hillary Clinton, 40-1. If only the Buffalo Bills had gone to a fifth Super Bowl, they might have won it.
Maggie Hassan, freshman senator from New Hampshire, 35-1. She’s a fighter, she’s a great campaigner, and she wouldn’t let The Donald stalk her on the debate stage. She’s a long shot because she’s moved to the national scene and has virtually no name recognition outside the Northeast, but you’ll get to know her over the next four years.
Bob Iger, 20-1. The Disney CEO has expressed interest in running for president. So what if he doesn’t have any elected experience? Neither did Mickey Mouse. I mean, the incumbent. These days, elected experience is apparently a liability if you’re trying to get elected. Maybe I’ll run.
Cory Booker, 8-1. The former mayor of Newark and current U.S. senator from New Jersey would be the second African American Democratic presidential nominee. Too young and inexperienced? Maybe not by 2020.
Mark Cuban, 6-1. He was very nice to me when I was a contestant on Shark Tank, even if he didn’t make me an offer. Since he was thwarted in his efforts to buy the Chicago Cubs, the White House might be a nice consolation prize.
Elizabeth Warren, 4-1. Her greatest challenge is that she may not hold her Massachusetts Senate seat. Tough to get into the White House if you don’t have a day job.
Al Franken, 3-1. The senator from Minnesota, who played Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live, is just itching to run against Trump. Every time they cut to him for a reaction shot during the State of the Union, his expression seemed to be saying, “You’re going down, baby.”
Bernie Sanders, 2-1. If there had been a level playing field in the Democratic Party, Bernie would have beaten Hillary. Could Bernie have beaten Trump in the General Election in the ultimate Battle of the Outsiders? We’ll never know. His “America ad” is still the best campaign ad since LBJ’s one with the nuclear bomb, Barry Goldwater, and the little girl with flower petals. If you’re 60 or younger, you can find it on YouTube.
And the winner is…Terry McAuliffe, 8-5.
Who?
He’s the governor of Virginia, but more to the point, he’s Bill Clinton’s best friend and biggest fundraiser, and if you ever meet him, he will tell you so himself. McAuliffe will have the full backing of the Clintonistas, and though they took a beating last November, they would love to find a path back to glory. McAuliffe offers them this chance.
Previously published by Michael Levin
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Photo: Getty Images
You really think Clinton won’t rig the 2020 primary?