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Booker Dodges Question on Whether He's Running for President: 'That's Three Years Away'

September 24, 2017

Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) dodged a question about his rumored White House bid in 2020, telling MSNBC's Al Sharpton they could talk about the future later.

After an interview airing Sunday delving into the health care fight on Capitol Hill, criminal justice reform and the future of the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, Sharpton snuck in a question about Booker's future.

"Are you going to run for president in 2020?" Sharpton asked.

"Well, listen man, these days I feel like I'm running from the president, not for the presidency," Booker said. "I've got to focus on what New Jersey elected me to do. That's three years away. I'm going to be the best senator I can be and not be afraid to call out injustice when I see it, no matter what happens. So I am where I am right now. Let's you and I talk about the future in years to come."

"Good duck," Sharpton said. "I tried to take a try."

Booker recently signed onto the single-payer health care plan sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) along with other rumored 2020 hopefuls like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Kamala Harris (D., Calif.).

Booker won a special election for his Senate seat in 2013 and was then re-elected in 2014.