UPDATE: Rep. Eric Swalwell joins the crowded 2020 presidential field

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post



Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) said Monday he will seek the Democratic nomination for president, offering himself as a fresh face from a younger generation to lead his party in its bid to unseat President Trump.

Swalwell, 38, formally announced his campaign during an appearance on CBS’s “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on Monday evening. “I see a country in quicksand, unable to solve problems and threats from abroad, unable to make life better for people here at home. Nothing gets done,” he said in a video clip from the show’s taping that was distributed via social media hours before the show was set to air.

Swalwell said he talked to teachers, truckers, nurses and young people who “sit in their classroom afraid that they’ll be the next victim of gun violence, and they see Washington doing nothing about it after the moment of silence.”

Hitting hard on the generational theme, he added that “none of that is going to change until we get a leader who’s willing to go big on the issues we take on, be bold in the solutions we offer and do good in the way that we govern. I’m ready to solve these problems. I’m running for president of the United States.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rep-eric-swalwell-joins-the-crowded-2020-presidential-field/2019/04/08/6f6c0036-54b8-11e9-9136-f8e636f1f6df_story.html

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Original article and headline -

Rep. Eric Swalwell of California joins crowded field of 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls

By Washington Post Staff
April 8 at 7:05 PM

The four-term congressman, who has been a frequent guest on cable news programs as well as a visitor to Iowa over the past couple of years, added his name to the long list of people vying for the Democrats' 2020 presidential nomination.

Swalwell, 38, formally announced the campaign during an appearance on CBS's "Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/04/08/rep-eric-swalwell-of-california-joins-crowded-field-of-2020-democratic-presidential-hopefuls/?utm_term=.65a7fedf7bcd

to Brooklynite -

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Another good guy. So many good candidates, so hard to decide.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Here in PA, we won't be voting until April 28 during the primaries

and I figure the field will be significantly whittled down by then so it is hard to get invested in one this early. But it will be interesting to see who can survive this for the long term. This may be a record for number of candidates. I just don't recall this many.

[DownriverDem]

21. Too many candidates

Yes most are good, but I sure hope it gets whittled down fast.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. Me, too.

It's a great bunch of people but at the same time I don't want the basic Dem message, as well as fund-raising, diluted by too many candidates. After (or even before) the debates I expect some will fall away when they can't come up with a message or an image that resonates and the contributions dwindle.

[brooklynite]

3. Campaign announcement video

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Nice.

Will add to the OP comments!

[Moostache]

5. Buttigeig - Swalwell 2020 - The Millenials Strike Back

I can dig it....after all, these people are the only ones old enough to represent those among us young enough to be assured of experiencing the worst effects of climate change ALREADY BAKED INTO THE EQUATIONS...the world will NOT suddenly stop warming even if we turned everything off permanently tomorrow...the people who are going to live through that reality should be the ones put in charge now, when there is still some hope of surviving and mitigating the impacts.

Wait another 4 years and things will be exponentially worse...

[Honeycombe8]

14. They are two younger politicians who seem mature for their age.

Swalwell is the more experienced, esp handling events on a national scale. But Buttigieg has that midwestern thing goin' on.

But they are two white males, and some won't like that. If I had to choose, it'd be Swalwell.

The debates will weed out the ones who don't have what it takes. We need a natural leader with smarts & gumption, and articulate. And who can hold his/her own against Trump. They all have positions that Democrats support, so positions on issues are secondary to me.

[Jedi Guy]

17. The biggest hurdle in beating Trump will be countering him in the media, in my opinion.

Trump has a way of sucking up all the oxygen in the room and drowning out his opponent's message with his bullshit bullhorn. Look at all the breathless (and free) media coverage he got in 2016. Our candidate will need to be able to battle it out with him on that level while avoiding the trap of coming across as boorish and classless as Trump does. For Trump, that's a strength. For just about anyone else, it'd be a weakness. That old saying about wrestling a pig comes to mind, and it's very apt in Trump's case.

The race/sex aspect is irrelevant to me, honestly. I just want someone who can beat Trump and then start reversing the damage he's done. If that's a female POC, fantastic. If it's a white male, great.

[DownriverDem]

22. My goal

These are not normal times. I just want a Dem candidate that can beat trump. I don't need to like him or her either. I just want to win.

[c-rational]

29. Agreed and on the climate change message, there was a Show on the Smithsonian Channel

last night about Mass Extinctions. Humans impact on the planet may do more that just change the climate, but lead to the end of life as we know it by 2100 if we do not act quickly and forcefully. That coupled by the super bugs we are promoting through the use of pesticides, fungicides and antibiotics we use in agriculture is frightening. Change we must.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Does he have a cute dog?

I think we all knew this was coming. When he held his baby "Cricket" during the swearing in of the new Congress I could see this idea was in the works.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. IIRC

a whole bunch of people were holding his baby too!

[BigmanPigman]

35. What is IIRC?

[Raine]

37. If I Remember Correctly

I didn't know but was curious so I just had to look it up.

[BumRushDaShow]

38. LOL Thank you

Yes, it was one of those abbreviations that I picked up from DU.

[Honeycombe8]

13. He has a cute dog? Okay, well..."he had me at Cricket."

Really. I like that.

[BigmanPigman]

39. Me too.

[Honeycombe8]

42. Turns out Cricket isn't a dog. It's a baby.

Too bad. Although I'm sure THEY are happy about that.

I don't think it's a good thing that he has a newborn at a time he plans on running a big campaign for President of this enormous country, along with his spouse.

[BigmanPigman]

45. I know...I think it is a charming nickname.

When he first said it I thought it was the baby's real name. I taught in elementary school and there were no normal names anymore. Would you believe that in 20 years of teaching and dozens of schools( while subbing) I NEVER had a Karen, Susan or Lisa in any of my classes. When I grew up those names were common. Now Szygoutker (for example) is a student's name and that is normal for a boy or girl with a WASP heritage since it is "unique". It is also impossible for a teacher to pronounce let alone remember these modern names. Maybe that is why I like Cricket too.

[msongs]

7. let's see how reins in the evil trumpsters while he is in congress nt

[thesquanderer]

9. Positions...

http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/Eric_Swalwell.htm

[Xipe Totec]

10. #metoo-II-2020 nt

[Eric J in MN]

11. Eric Swalwell was elected to Congress by running against incumbent Pete Stark (D) from the right.

California has a Top Two system.

Pete Stark won round 1, as right-wing voters chose a third candidate.

Round 2 was Pete Stark vs. Eric Swalwell.

Eric Swalwell won round 2 with the help of those right-wing voters.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Oh, my. Another one. Too many! But...I'm very interested in this one.

I'm interested in very few so far. I'm pretty darn interested in Swalwell. I've been seeing him on tv for a year or two, and have liked what I've seen.

He goes on my short list, I think. It's a very short list.

[fascisthunter]

15. Say Republicans want to take over our government

You won't and that is why you lose. Especially with the kind I work with. Go Big, Go Bold! But your wishwashy millionaire will say otherwise. We little people wait for your wisdom... lol.

[bluestarone]

16. lot of great people here

Gonna be some tough decisions ahead!

[forgotmylogin]

18. Sigh.

This is my first Presidential campaign season where multiple candidates are younger than me.

[Polybius]

25. Him and Tulsi Gabbard are younger than me

Beto is a couple of years older than I am. Not sure if I missed anyone younger.

[forgotmylogin]

33. You know, it's good though.

The government will work better when it reflects all people of all generations instead of old rich white men and middle-age heirs who like to boss people around.

[LovingA2andMI]

19. Like Eric Swalwell....

For Secretary of Labor, Commerce or UN in a Harris/Bettigieg administration.

[lostnfound]

20. Great guy. Wish he was female. ;) But definitely lands on my shortlist.

Even though I’m very puzzled how he thinks he will have time to do this. His committee is very busy.

[LakeArenal]

24. He's a good candidate.

I believe he is from Iowa. So that would help in the Mid-west.

[GemDigger]

26. We really are lucky that everyone who is in the race is so... so...

so damn brilliant and qualified. All of them!

[ancianita]

27. I love Swalwell! Best of luck to him. He's got fight, clarity, and is hopefully quick in debate.

[notdarkyet]

28. For Swalwell.

[meatwitheyes]

30. Harris and Swalwell?

Two Californians I'd love it!

[Retrograde]

36. That would be a problem per the Constitution

which states "The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves", so one of them is going to lose a big chuck of electoral votes. It opens the possibility of a Democratic president and Republican vice-president (or vice versa)

[Brother Buzz]

48. The entire nation will be following California's early primary

The race may translate to a Northern California vs a Southern California thingy.

[awesomerwb1]

31. I love Swalwell.

One of the toughest, most outspoken dump critics. But I'm not sure he can win Dem primaries and apparently he'll be leaving congress win or lose which I don't like(someone correct me if I'm wrong). We need tough fearless guys like him in Congress.

[YOHABLO]

32. I really like this guy.

[quickesst]

34. I know one thing that will help him

He is a cutting-edge master of humor. It will aid him in the primaries, and if he ends up being the Democratic nominee, I will enjoy watching him slice and dice drump in the debates.
Glad to see him get in. If Joe Biden chooses not to run, Eric Swalwell has been my back-up for quite some time now. This is one well-rounded candidate.

[DeminPennswoods]

40. Why all this worry about the "midwest"?

Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, the Dakotas are states where the population is generally older, homogeneous white people. With a few exceptions, they don't vote for Dems on a statewide basis. More importantly, this is a declining demographic group. Yet we have Klobuchar, Ryan, Buttigieg, Swalwell and probably Biden all trying, in vain imho, to win over this group.

Dems should be focusing on the states where the populations actually reflect the make up of today's America.

[BumRushDaShow]

41. Swalwell was actually born in Iowa

and spent part of his childhood there before his family moved to California.

And I think the focus on at least some of the MW states (notably MI, OH, WI, which have voted blue before) is if anything, due to the electoral vote reality. Unless a state like AZ can be flipped to blue due to the demographics there and FL can be flipped back to blue (again demographics), then you need at least one of those MW states to get to 270.

[DeminPennswoods]

43. Ohio, imo, is not that winnable for Dems anymore

Michigan overwhelmingly voted Democratic in the mid-terms. Like in PA, I think Trump's win there was a fluke. Not sure what to think about Wisc, but states like Nev, Colo, AZ, NM are turning bluer every cycle. I think Montana is a flippable state, tbh. Mid-Atlantic states where Demographics are rapidly changing like VA, NC and GA are better targets than Ohio.

Swalwell is just ok in my book. He comes from a family of cops and thinks like them. No thanks from me although as you say, the Dem will be pretty well whittled down by the time we vote here in PA.

[BumRushDaShow]

44. One of my BILs was born and raised in OH

(Dayton area)... and his mother, one of his older brothers and a sister (and their families) are still there, although some of his nieces have moved over here to the east coast (Philly, Philly 'burbs and NYC metro & 'burbs) after getting married and starting to raise a family.

One of the things that happened there, particularly in western OH, was that folks (many of them Democrats) left. My BIL has told me that most of his friends from his old neighborhood and from school, moved out of the state completely (as he did, living in the suburbs here outside of Philly with my sister). His uncle had actually come here many years ago, so he had someone here to touch base with before meeting my sister. But regardless, he and my sister make that 10 hour drive back to OH at least once or twice a year (he is afraid to fly) to see his mom and the rest of the family there.

I don't think there is really true leveraging of the vote in the cities in OH (and there are a number of them) to get blue turnout up and battle all the shenanigans that the GOP has put in place there - at least enough to overcome the red small town/rural areas. As you know here in PA, if it wasn't for Philly, Pittsburgh and the Scranton/Allentown/Bethlehem area, PA would have continually voted red, where 2016 was the first time since 1988 that it did so.

And I agree about the 2016 fluke here (some of it turnout, some of it Stein, some of it Erie actually flipping to red for the first time).

And yup - can't really get that vested in the huge field at this point until I see who is left as we get closer to April 2020!

[RhodeIslandOne]

47. Barack Obama won it twice

Sherrod Brown has been able to win there on a pro union platform.

The Trump win there while an easy one was a fluke. Ohio will be one of the main states to suffer from his policies.

[DeminPennswoods]

49. Obama's wins there were an aberration, imho

Ohio is one of the least demographically diverse states. It's very similar to western PA, old, white, conservative and more religious than not. Sherrod Brown probably wins because he's an incumbent more than anything. No House seats were flipped from red to blue and DeWine was elected over Cordray, a very similar candidate to Brown.

On the state level, Rs swept all statewide offices (Atty Gen, Treasurer, Aud Gen).

[RhodeIslandOne]

46. I'm impressed by him and hope he runs for Senate when Dianne Feinstein retires

He should stay out of this clusterfluck.