Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who many liberals want to see run for president in 2016, took somewhat of a pass on Tuesday when asked to assess the progressive credentials of former Secretary of State and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Rev. Al Sharpton, the host of “Politics Nation” on MSNBC, asked Ms. Warren what she would say to liberals who have questions on whether Mrs. Clinton would be a “progressive warrior.”
“You know, I think that’s what we gotta see,” Ms. Warren said. “I want to hear what she wants to run on and what she says she wants to do — that’s what campaigns are supposed to be about.”
Mrs. Warren’s stock among the left wing of the Democratic party has risen quickly since she was first elected in 2012, and her increasing influence in the party writ large was confirmed when she was awarded a new position in Senate Democrats’ leadership structure after the 2014 midterm elections.
She has repeatedly insisted she is not running for president, but liberal activists are nevertheless still pleading with her to enter the race as an alternative to Mrs. Clinton.
The New York Times recently reported that the two had a private meeting in December at the northwest Washington home of the Clintons, at Mrs. Clinton’s invitation.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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