Franken dodges on backing ‘terrific’ Klobuchar for 2020 bid

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) on Wednesday avoided directly answering whether he would support fellow Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) in a potential 2020 presidential run, but offered her effusive praise.  

“I think we are going to have a big field. She’d be great. She’d be terrific,” Franken said of Klobuchar during a town hall discussion with Bob Cusack, editor in chief of The Hill, and Julie Mason, host of “The Press Pool” on SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel.

{mosads}Franken then noted he’s frequently been asked whether he will run for president.

“You know, that is just not a job I want,” he said, adding that he’s focused on spotlight issues like healthcare.

He has repeatedly denied interest in running for the top office.

Franken added that while Democrats have had issues improving their messaging, he believes the party fights for Americans who “are on the margins.”

“I believe Democrats do fight for people who are on the margins and I believe there are some people Trump appealed to who don’t like people who are on the margins. We have a vision for an economy that works for all Americans,” Franken said.

Klobuchar attended a fundraiser in Iowa earlier this month, prompting speculation that she could be considering a 2020 presidential run.

Klobuchar as well as Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) are names commonly mentioned as possible 2020 contenders.