Swing-state senators become 2020 kingmakers

Democratic White House hopefuls are seeking advice from the Midwestern senators who just won reelection in Trump states.

By JAMES ARKIN and DANIEL STRAUSS 03/14/2019 05:00 AM EDT

As Democrats prepared to dive into the 2020 presidential election, they have sought counsel from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But they’ve also looked to Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan for advice from the key states that tipped the 2016 election to President Donald Trump.

The three Midwestern Democratic senators all won reelection in 2018, and they’ve begun advising 2020 Democrats about how to replicate their success in the heartland next year. In phone calls and informal chats on the Senate floor, they and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) — who last week removed himself from the 2020 race after considering a run — are using their recently tested political clout to influence the primary and steer candidates to their states.

None of the Democratic senators represent early primary states, which means candidates aren’t regularly flocking to their states to court party activists yet. But the party made a statement about the importance of the Midwest when it selected Milwaukee for its 2020 convention. And with Democratic voters focused on nominating a candidate who can beat Trump, the candidates are determined to prove they can understand and compete in the nation’s key swing states.

“The path to the presidency goes right through Wisconsin. It was Trump's narrow win in this state as well as some neighboring states that solidified the presidency for him,” Baldwin told POLITICO in an interview.

“I also would note that it's really near Iowa,” Baldwin added.

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https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/14/rust-belt-senatorspresidential-election-1220996