Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - February 14, 2019

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February 14, 2019

Gillibrand and Warren hire top staffers   February 14, 2019: Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld is expected to comment on a possible primary challenge to President Donald Trump Friday morning. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris expand their campaign staff. Share the latest from the campaign trail.         Notable Quote of the Day “It’s sort of just like bad luck because of where the members are. A lot of [Congressional Hispanic Caucus] members are basically frozen just because of state politics. [They] have to work within their state delegation [and] just need to play nice. It’s hard to play those games when you have someone from your state that’s prominent running.” – Mike Trujillo, Democratic strategist, on why CHC members have not endorsed Julián Castro Democrats Sen. Cory Booker, who is vegan, discussed agriculture and food policy in an interview with VegNews. He said, “The tragic reality is this planet simply can’t sustain billions of people consuming industrially produced animal agriculture because of environmental impact.” South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg was interviewed by Gabriel Debenedetti for New York Magazine. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has hired Semedrian Smith, who previously worked as deputy campaign manager for Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2018, to serve as her national political director.  Four more staffers are also joining her team: Danielle Duffy as chief operating officer, Gavrie Kullman as digital finance director, Pat Devney as New Hampshire state director, and Shannon McLeod as New Hampshire political director. Sen. Kamala Harris will make her first visit to Nevada as a presidential candidate when she speaks at a town hall meeting in Las Vegas and the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit next month. CNN will broadcast a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar Monday. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced that her 2018 Senate campaign manager, Roger Lau, will lead her 2020 presidential campaign. Lau previously worked on Hillary Clinton’s and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns. Longtime Warren aide Dan Geldon will also join her campaign as chief of staff. Republicans The Trump presidential campaign is focusing its opposition research on three Democratic candidates: Booker, Harris, and Warren. Trump is most concerned with former Vice President Joe Biden entering the race, Politico reported. On the Cusp: Tracking Potential Candidates Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) continues to reach out to donors as he considers a presidential bid, CNBC reported. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) is traveling to Iowa Friday and Saturday as he mulls a presidential run. Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) met last week with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to discuss a possible run for Senate in Texas as an alternative to a presidential bid. Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R) is expected to comment on his presidential plans during a speech at the “Politics and Eggs” series on Friday morning. What We’re Reading Bustle: 2020 Campaign Reporters To Follow On Twitter Now That The Race Is Heating Up New York Magazine: 2020 Democratic Presidential Field Could Be the Largest Ever Reuters: Democrats Swear off Big Money, but Will It Hurt Their 2020 White House Chances? Flashback: February 14, 2015 Before he was a candidate, Donald Trump said the American public would respond positively to him if he ran for president. “I will say that when I give a speech, I get the best response by a long-shot and I get the biggest crowds and people have all seen that. Some people think I’m just having fun with it, and, you know, but that’s not the case. I’m looking at it very seriously and I’ll make a decision by June, and that will be that,” Trump said.