One of the chief strategists who guided President Obama to an upset win over then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary says Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts cannot beat Mrs. Clinton in 2016.
Former Obama strategist David Axelrod said he doesn’t think Mrs. Warren, who has repeatedly refused the pleas from liberal groups calling for her to enter the race, is going to run.
“I have high regard for Elizabeth. I don’t think she would beat her,” Mr. Axelrod told radio Host Hugh Hewitt. “Look, look at the polling, Hugh. Hillary is probably as well-positioned within her own party as any open seat candidate has been in our lifetime.”
Mr. Axelrod said he knows the team Mrs. Clinton is assembling and said he thinks “she’s going to come out of the gate very strong.”
He said there isn’t a galvanizing issue this time around on the level of the Iraq War, which Mr. Obama successfully used in 2008 to separate himself from Mrs. Clinton, particularly if Mrs. Clinton is able to speak about issues affecting the middle class and how to create opportunity and upward mobility.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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