An MSNBC guest said Wednesday that Democrats need a white male candidate and "nobody wants Bernie Sanders" to run. Jason Johnson failed to acknowledge former Rep. John Delaney (Md.), who's officially running, and Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana who has formed an exploratory committee.
Johnson, an MSNBC political contributor and politics editor for the Root online magazine, made the remarks during an"MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle" panel discussion about former Rep. Robert Francis 'Beto' O'Rourke's potential entry into the 2020 Democratic primary.
"What happens when he runs against a field of Democrats? I don't know, but there is a market for an aspirational candidate in America. And if he can excite people much like Barack Obama did, you never know," former John Kasich campaign strategist John Weaver said.
"I'll be even more specific," Johnson said. "It's not just there is a market for an aspirational candidate. Democrats need a white guy. They don't have one yet."
"Okay," anchor Stephanie Ruhle said.
"I mean, let's just be honest. Whenever you're the out-party, you are desperately interested in who do we think can beat this guy. The Democrats do not have one white man and white men are still an important part of the electorate. They don't have one white guy running," Johnson continued.
"They could. You've got Sherrod Brown, you've got Joe Biden hanging in the wings," Ruhle responded.
"But these guys are not nearly as dynamic, they're not as young, as engaging and they didn't get the kind of national attention that Beto O'Rourke has. This guy checks off a lot of boxes. Now, will he grow and evolve during a campaign should he decide to run? I think he will, but he's their best option," Johnson said.
"Look, Sherrod Brown used to be my senator. Great guy. Don't know if I think he's dynamic enough. Joe Biden has plenty of issues that may make it difficult for him to get in the race. Nobody wants Bernie Sanders to run. I know my mentions are gonna be fire, but it's true," Johnson continued.
Delaney declared he would run for president in July 2017. Buttigieg announced late last month he was forming an exploratory committee.
A recent Emerson College poll found former Vice President Joe Biden, who has yet to declare his candidacy, leading Democratic candidates among Iowa voters. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) came in third with 15 percent support, while O'Rourke came in fifth with 6 percent. Delaney was at 1 percent and Buttigieg was at zero.