NEW ORLEANS — [Stephen A.] Smith just emerged as a presidential contender in a survey of potential Democratic candidates by Donald Trump’s former pollster John McLaughlin.
The sportscaster snared 2% of the vote in a hypothetical 2028 Democratic presidential primary. That was right behind the 3% for vice presidential candidate and Minnesota governor Tim Walz, as well as Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro.
Smith even polled ahead of the 1% for big Democratic names such as Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker and former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke. Former Vice President Harris led the poll at 33% —and was the only candidate to poll in double digits. It should be noted that any polls this far ahead of true primaries are built much more on name recognition than probability. This week, I interviewed McLaughlin about Smith.
“We included his name because there were media reports about him talking about the presidency. But he didn’t come in at zero. He got some support. He certainly got media attention. So he’s probably gone up. But he’d probably have to take a pay cut. Just like President Trump had to take a pay cut. So we’ll see,” said the CEO of McLaughlin & Associates.
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We don’t do politics at CarlsBlogs.com just kidding yes we do. Yes we absolutely do. I am smart enough to manage the message here that I don’t care about political parties. Some policies, absolutely. But for the very most part, both sides are filled with good intentions and horrible practices. I think any substantive conversation between intelligent Americans should principally agree on this sentiment and then the remainder of time should be how we best manage the dueling parties to get the best path forward for our local communities. That’s what I think about politics and needless to say we’re about a billion years away from realizing any type of constructive, respectful environment that benefits future generations. For now and the indefinite future, it’s survival of the fittest folks.
As such, I’m forced to relegate myself to the entertainment value of federal politics. Like Steve Buscemi in Armageddon, the nihilism is simply growing too strong and powerful for me to be mature. I’m more comfortable sitting in a lawn chair, drinking a Mai Thai and waiting for the world to burn than I am signing a petition to improve absolutely nothing. Just as an example of course.
And as another example, I’m creaming my pantalones at the thought of Stephen A getting on stage with Donald Trump for a round table. Take everything else off the table: political qualifications, rationale thought, foreign policy implications and mid-day ESPN programming. Simply consider it from the entertainment value and tell me Stephen A and Donald don’t shatter Super Bowl ratings in the first televised town hall.
Like I would sincerely and unironically go post up at a local sports bar and complain for full game audio. I’d be so reckless on debate props like how many times Stephen A declares the world PLEASE
o/u 96.5 -120
It would be amazing and I don’t exactly disagree that Stephen A. provides a better opposition to Republicans than any mainstream politician. Seriously. 100% give me Stephen A. on a ticket over Gavin Newsome or JB Pritzker and don’t bother asking me twice. Same goes for Chuck and all those other blood drinking, insider trading, devil worshipping heathens. POTUS would bulldoze those guys right off the stage and back to their state governments. It wouldn’t be close.
Stephen A. on the other hand – he might also get his doors blown off but at least we’d get some electric clips and memories. It’s the ultimate arena for maybe the most polished shit talker in the history of sports media. A man who can easily recall and fact check and triple stamp a double stamp better than anyone else on the left. And he’s got decades of experience doing it on live television against some of the biggest trolls in the history mankind. So under that premise, I think he makes a formidable opponent on a debate stage.
For that reason and that reason alone, I kinda love this move. Politics and policies and gender identity aside. Let’s just come together as a country and say Donald Trump vs. Stephen A. Smith in a live televised debate would be appointment level television for everyone in this country regardless of your beliefs.
And while it’s good ranting and raving, this is now the part of the blog where things turn serious because it actually looks like he really wants to do this. There’s no other explanation for him putting out extended political talking points so maybe it’s not a joke. Maybe this is very real and it’s our future.
Your move Skip Bayless