Election analyst says Gillibrand doesn’t have ‘horsepower to go the full distance’

Election analyst Henry Olsen told Hill.TV on Monday that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) does not have a large enough fundraising network to be successful in the 2020 Democratic primary.

“If you’re an elected-twice senator, and you’re only at $3 million, you don’t have the horsepower to go the full distance,” Olsen, a Washington Post columnist, told host Jamal Simmons on “What America’s Thinking.”

Gillibrand’s spokesperson announced Sunday that her campaign raised $3 million in the first quarter of 2019, putting her behind most of her 2020 opponents.

“If you’re running for president, you should already have a network of friends, and this is the time when you’ve called on all of your friends to give and put in first,” Olsen said. “I think the biggest thing it shows me is that Kirsten Gillibrand doesn’t have any friends.”

Meredith Kelly, a spokesperson for Gillibrand, said the first-quarter fundraising numbers “mean Kirsten can continue to grow her operation in early states in ambitious ways, focused on introducing her to voters, building strong relationships and earning support in living rooms, tap rooms, coffee shops and college campuses.”

Her campaign also reportedly linked the low figures to backlash over Gillibrand’s decision in 2017 to call for the resignation of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.).

“There’s no question that the first quarter was adversely impacted by certain establishment donors — and many online — who continue to punish Kirsten for standing up for her values and for women,” according to a memo obtained by the New York Times.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) raised more than $18 million in the first quarter, while Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) brought in more than $12 million. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) raised half as much as Harris.

Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) each brought in over $5 million during the first three months of 2019.

— Julia Manchester