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SCREEN CAPTURE / CNN
Hawaii's Representative Tulsi Gabbard |
WHILE NO ONE WAS WATCHING, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has joined the 2020 race for President of the U.S.
The Hawaii congressmember told CNN her intention to join what is expected a crowded field of candidates to challenge the Republican candidate who at this point, will be Donald Trump.
“I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week,” Gabbard told CNN host Van Jones during a taping of his show on Friday.
But her announcement Friday on CNN still caught many by surprise — including her father, State Senator Mike Gabbard.
The elder Gabbard told Hawaii News Now that he was traveling and “pleasantly surprised” to see his daughter had announced her 2020 bid for the White House.
“I didn’t know she had made a final decision,” Gabbard said. “She has so much aloha for the people. She’ll make a great president!”
Tulsi Gabbard, 37. represents District 2 of Hawaii. She is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.
One of Tulsi Gabbard's main focus in her campaign is her anti-interventionist position. especially in regards to the Middle East where she served two tours in the U.S. Army. She currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week,” Gabbard told CNN host Van Jones during a taping of his show on Friday.
But her announcement Friday on CNN still caught many by surprise — including her father, State Senator Mike Gabbard.
The elder Gabbard told Hawaii News Now that he was traveling and “pleasantly surprised” to see his daughter had announced her 2020 bid for the White House.
“I didn’t know she had made a final decision,” Gabbard said. “She has so much aloha for the people. She’ll make a great president!”
Tulsi Gabbard, 37. represents District 2 of Hawaii. She is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.
One of Tulsi Gabbard's main focus in her campaign is her anti-interventionist position. especially in regards to the Middle East where she served two tours in the U.S. Army. She currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Gabbard's early announcement might allow her to test her fund-raising ability. She is not widely known outSen. side of Hawaii so she will rely heavily on the connections she has made while working on Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign. Rania Batrice, who was Sanders' deputy campaign manager is now a top aide to Gabbard, will be Gabbard's campaign manager..
The 4-term Gabbard has always been an outlier in the Democratic Party. In 2015, Gabbard, was vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, but became disappointed with the leadership and was sharply critical of the DNC's chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for scheduling just six presidential debates during the 2016 primary election cycle and for its apparent favoritism towards candidate Hillary Clinton.
The 4-term Gabbard has always been an outlier in the Democratic Party. In 2015, Gabbard, was vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, but became disappointed with the leadership and was sharply critical of the DNC's chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for scheduling just six presidential debates during the 2016 primary election cycle and for its apparent favoritism towards candidate Hillary Clinton.
Gabbard later resigned her post as DNC vice chair to become one of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' highest-profile supporters, aligning herself with his populist economic message.
Gabbard's entry into the coming Democratic fray may split Sander's young progressive supporters should the Vermont senator decide to join the race for president. Some speculate, Gabbard's candidacy may be signal that the 77-year old Sanders will not throw his hat in the ring.
Thus far, only Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former HUD Secretry Julian Castro of Texas have launched exploratory committees. At least 20 more Democrats are expected to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for president.
Jones' show air on CNN today, Saturday (Dec. 12) at 7 p.m. EDT.
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