Matthews: Can Democrats conceivably ‘run two white men’ on 2020 ticket?

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews asked Wednesday night if the Democratic Party can conceivably “run two white men” as a 2020 presidential ticket, asking if there needs to be gender or “ethnic balance” in order for the party to win.

The conversation came during a segment on “Hardball” as host Matthews and his panel previewed who could be the front-runners in what is expected to be a crowded Democratic field for the nomination.

“Talk about the gender issue and the age issue,” Matthews said to McClatchy White House reporter Anita Kumar.

“I don’t think the age issue matters,” Kumar responded. “Because in 2016, who were the big candidates? Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, two older people.”

“We had a poll, dated now, back in the 2016 race, and 71 percent of people said age was a benefit. Because of people are living longer and they are working longer,” she noted.

“But can the Democrats run, I’ll be blunt now, at this point in time in the 2020 election, can they run two white men given the nature, given the makeup of the party today?” Matthews asked after declaring that he believes former Vice President Joe Biden will run.

“Or does there have to be balance, gender balance, ethnic balance of some kind?”

“I think there has to be some balance. And I think on the Democratic side that’s why you’re seeing [New Jersey Sen.] Cory Booker and [former Massachusetts Gov.] Duval Patrick,” said Kumar.

“Is it a deal-breaker if it’s two white guys?” Matthews asked. “Because I think it is.”

Matthews went on to say Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) would be the right choice as a running mate on a Biden ticket if he decided to run.

Harris, 52, is a former attorney and served as California attorney general before being elected as the state’s junior senator in 2016.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are among the dozens of candidates thought to be considering runs for the Democratic nomination to face President Trump in 2020.