- Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is said to be postponing his decision on whether to run in the 2020 US presidential election in light of former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign.
- Biden is the Democratic frontrunner in numerous polls and believed to be running on a similar platform to Schultz, people familiar with the Schultz’s strategy said in a Fox Business report published Wednesday.
- Schultz was expected to make a decision this summer, but that could be delayed until 2020.
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Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz reportedly postponed his decision on whether or not to run in the 2020 US presidential election in light of former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign.
Biden, who is a moderate candidate, is the Democratic frontrunner in numerous polls and believed to be running on a similar platform to Schultz, people familiar with the Schultz’s strategy said in a Fox Business report published on Wednesday.
Schultz is expected not to run in the election if Biden maintains his moderate views and becomes the Democratic nominee, the sources added, according to the report. Schultz was expected to announce in the summer, but that could be delayed until 2020.
"His decision will be based on how the Democratic field shakes out and seeing how Biden fares," a person familiar with Schultz's strategy told Fox Business. "If Joe Biden remains strong, and remains a moderate, there clearly is a much narrower path."
The potential candidate announced he was running as an independent centrist in January. The longtime Democrat has since appeared in numerous televised town halls and interviews. In recent weeks, however, Schultz's media appearances and social-media activity have tapered off because of his back surgery.
"If the math doesn't tally up when I get to the next three or four months ... I will not run for president," Schultz said during a CNN town hall in February. "Because I will not do anything whatsoever to reelect Donald Trump. No one wants to see him fired more than me."
Schultz received criticism by some Democrats who claim his candidacy could divert votes away from their Democratic candidate. Schultz's potential campaign has been likened to former third-party candidates who were blamed for courting Democratic voters, such as Ralph Nader in 2000 and Ross Perot in 1992.
"I'm here not saying I'm against the Democratic Party," Schultz said at the town hall. "I'm here saying I no longer recognize how far left they've gone. I just don't see myself in the party."
