Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) said she's not ruling out a possible presidential run in 2020.
MSNBC "Kasie DC" host Kasie Hunt asked Harris about a possible 2020 campaign, and the Democratic lawmaker attempted to dodge giving a straight answer. After pressing several times, Hunt was able to get Harris to admit she wasn't ruling out a future presidential bid.
"Your colleague Cory Booker (D., N.J.) was asked about his presidential ambitions recently and he said after 2018 he'll give it a look. Are you in that same place?" Hunt asked Harris.
"I'm focused on 2018," Harris responded.
"Will you give it a look after 2018?" Hunt asked.
"I'm looking all around," Harris said.
"But not looking at the White House?" Hunt pressed.
"Right now I'm focused on this. I'm focused on a lot of other things as a higher priority," Harris said.
"But you're not ruling it out?" Hunt continued.
"I don't know. I'm not ruling it out," Harris said.
Hunt also asked if Harris felt her potential 2020 opponent President Donald Trump was "ruining America."
"The former Virginia governor was on Capitol Hill this past week and he did an interview where he said President Trump is ruining America. Do you think that's true? Is President Trump ruining America?" Hunt asked.
"I think that this president is someone who enjoys dividing the country. I think he does. I think he has sadly decided that he gets a lot of applause, and he likes the applause, when he throws red meat," Harris said. "That's not the sign of a leader. A leader of a country is someone who brings people together, not tears people apart."
The speculation around whether Harris will run in 2020 grew when she paid the same media firm that sparked the insurgent 2016 campaign for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). She has also dropped six figures in advertisements in 2018, despite not being up for reelection until 2022.
If Harris does decide to run for president, she will have to do more to convince her colleague Sen. Diane Feinstein (D., Calif.) that she's the candidate to lead the Democratic Party. Back in March, Feinstein said it was too soon to tell if Harris would make a great president.