Cory Booker Vs. Trump? NJ Senator ‘Considering Run For President’

Booker versus Trump in 2020? Don’t start placing your bets just yet, but U.S. Senator Cory Booker, a high-profile Democrat from New Jersey, has taken another step towards a possible presidential bid against Donald Trump.

“I will consider running for president,” the former mayor of Newark told NJ.com last weekend. “That's something that I will do. There's people in New Jersey who are talking to me about it, across the country that are talking to me about it.”

While rumors of a possible presidential run from Booker have been circulating for years, the discussion got ramped up a notch earlier this month when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that will allow a candidate to seek a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate and president or vice president at the same time.

• See related article: Murphy Signs 6 Bills Into Law, Boosts Booker's Presidential Hopes

Booker had “early conversations” with two top Iowa presidential campaign strategists – one who worked with Hillary Clinton and another who worked with former President Barack Obama – as he contemplates a run for the White House, CNBC reported last week.

Booker has a pretty good shot at earning the top nomination in 2020 from the Blue Wave, some gambling experts say. According to NJ.com, US-Bookies, a service which aggregates European betting sites, puts Booker’s odds of winning the Democratic Party nomination in 2020 at 10 to 1, behind only U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California (5 to 1) and Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas (6 to 1).

• See related article: Cory Booker Takes On 'Foodopoly,' Wants To Halt Big Agro Mergers

Recent issues and causes that Booker has supported include the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), criminal justice reform, gun control, recreational marijuana legalization, “combating wealth inequality,” investment in water and public infrastructure and “simplifying” student financial aid.

While some New Jersey residents may be cheering Booker on, President Trump has taken public jabs at him and has criticized his track record in Essex County.

"Take a look at Cory Booker," the President remarked during a news conference in October. "He ran Newark into the ground. He was a horrible mayor."

It wasn't the first time Trump has gone on the offensive against Booker… and it wasn't the first time he pulled out the "ran Newark into the ground" tagline either.

"He ran Newark into the ground… and now he wants to be president," Trump quipped at a rally in West Virginia last month. He then laughed off Booker's recent "Spartacus" moment, when the senator threatened to release pre-approved documents regarding Kavanaugh's past on the third day of the judge's confirmation hearings.

For what it's worth, Booker hasn't been silent about his disdain for Trump and his administration, either, blasting the POTUS for his stances on tax reform, immigration and the environment.

• See related article: Cory Booker 'Ran Newark Into The Ground' As Mayor, Trump Says

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Photo: YouTube / Cory Booker