While the Democrats already technically have their first candidate for the 2020 presidential election, most people don't consider Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) as a serious contender for the nomination. Someone who certainly could be in the mix for 2020, however, is former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), who is reportedly being urged by former President Barack Obama's "inner circle" to throw his hat in the ring. Among those urging Patrick to run include David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett.
Obama strategist David Axelrod has had several conversations with Patrick about running, and eagerly rattles off the early primary map logic: small-town campaign experience from his 2006 gubernatorial run that will jibe perfectly with Iowa, neighbor-state advantage in New Hampshire and the immediate bloc of votes he’d have as an African-American heading into South Carolina.
Valerie Jarrett, Obama’s close adviser and friend, says that a President Patrick is what “my heart desires.”
David Simas, Obama’s political director in the White House and now the CEO of his foundation, used to be Patrick’s deputy chief of staff and remains perhaps his biggest fan on the planet. (Politico Magazine)
Hmm.
Since Patrick's two terms as governor of Massachusetts ended in 2015, he's largely stayed out of the political spotlight and is now employed at Bain Capital. While there was talk of him being picked as Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016, that obviously didn't pan out, and he seems to be enjoying life out of the political arena, for now.
Still, the idea is intriguing--although it's probably far too early to start making bets for 2020.