Stacey Abrams says had considered 2028 run for president, but now open to 2020

Stacey Abrams said Monday that 2028 had been the earliest she would consider a run for  president under her previous career plan, but said now she regards a run in 2020 as “definitely on the table.”

Abrams had sparked talk earlier when she was seen as ruling out a 2020 run during a talk at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.

{mosads}”In the spreadsheet with all the jobs I wanted to do, 2028 would be the earliest I would be ready to stand for president because I would have done the work I thought necessary to be effective in that job,” the Georgia Democrat had said.

In her comment, Abrams was referring to a passage in her book detailing a spreadsheet with her career plans.

However, Abrams tweeted later on Monday she has not ruled out a 2020 run.

“20 years ago, I never thought I’d be ready to run for POTUS before 2028. But life comes at you fast,” she said in her tweet. “Now 2020 is definitely on the table.” 

In #LeadFromTheOutside, I explore how to be intentional about plans, but flexible enough to adapt. 20 years ago, I never thought I’d be ready to run for POTUS before 2028. But life comes at you fast – as I shared in Q&A w @Yamiche at @sxsw. Now 2020 is definitely on the table…

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) March 11, 2019

Abrams, who narrowly lost Georgia’s gubernatorial race last year, is a rising star in the Democratic Party.

She has also been seen as a potential challenger to Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) in 2020 or to Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in 2022.

The former Georgia House minority leader has remained in the headlines since her narrow loss, giving the Democrats’ official State of the Union response last month. 

On Monday, Abrams urged other Democrats seeking to challenge Trump in 2020 to not try to “out-Trump Trump.” 

“Any presidential campaign that focuses solely on trying to out-Trump Trump is destined for failure,” Abrams said. “I don’t want to elect the best bully. I want us to elect the best person.”

Yamiche Alcindor of “PBS NewsHour” also pressed Abrams on whether she believes Trump is racist.

“Yes. He’s racist. I think he’s xenophobic. I think he’s homophobic,” Abrams responded. “I think he has disdain for anything [he considers] different from the norm.”

Updated at 5:53 p.m.