Dozens of Democrats eyeing 2028 presidential run, says former Obama aide

More than two dozen Democrats are eyeing runs for the White House in 2028, following their party's success in the US midterm elections this week, according to the man behind Barack Obama's successful re-election bid.

Jim Messina, who led Obama's 2012 campaign, said that since Democrats saw major victories in congressional races as well as state elections, he's spoken to "over two dozen campaigns" that are actively considering running in 2028 and have begun the financing process and hiring staff.

"I think you're going to start having Democrats announce exploratory committees next week or the next couple of weeks, probably after Thanksgiving", Messina told the BBC's Americast podcast.

He said he already knows someone relocating to work on a governor's presidential campaign.

He also predicted that the number could shrink as candidates faced pressure to raise large sums needed for the primary contests that will decide the party's nominee.

Messina gave some insight into the conversations he's had, saying: "When I sit down with candidates or their campaigns, I say to them, 'Tell me your economic vision for the future of this country. What are you going to do on AI?'"

Then there's another factor: the outgoing president, Donald Trump, who will still be in office during the campaign season.

"And so, do the Democrats take the bait and talk about Donald Trump every day, or do you stay focused on your message?" he said.

"It's going be the most interesting presidential [election] since 2008."

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Messina, who went on to become Obama's deputy chief of staff at the White House, said the party's success in the US midterm elections was down to their ability to stay focused on the economy and the effect of Donald Trump's tariffs, which were "devastating to rural voters".

"When you're a farmer and you're paying $7 for a gallon of diesel to put in your tractor, the economics just don't work, and at the same time you're paying more for everything," he said.

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Staying on message about the economy helped them flip seats in traditionally strong Republican states like Iowa, Kansas, and Texas, he said.

"The common criticism of Democrats is that we can't stick to one message. And for the first time in a very long time, Democrats stuck to the economy. They didn't take the bait on the social wars," he said.

Messina cautioned Democrats that success in this year's midterm elections was not a ringing endorsement of the party and that "the MVP of the election for the Democrats was Donald Trump".

The hard part will now be bringing the party's progressive and centrist wings together in Congress, he said.

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