Politics

Abrams Rules Out 2020 Run, Then Immediately Backtracks On Twitter

REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant

Phillip Stucky Contributor
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Former Georgia Democratic Rep. Stacey Abrams announced that she does not plan to for president in 2020 during an interview at SXSW Monday but later backtracked on Twitter.

“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,” Abrams said in the interview, appearing to indicate she didn’t feel prepared enough for the office of president.

She quickly backtracked on Twitter shortly afterward, indicating that a primary run in “2020 is definitely on the table.”

Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams addresses supporters at an election watch party on November 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams addresses supporters at an election watch party on November 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

“In , 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,” Abrams tweeted.  “But life comes at you fast – as I shared in Q&A w at . Now 2020 is definitely on the table…”

Abrams’ Campaign manager during her 2018 run for governor in Georgia also provided backup on Twitter after the interview, revealing that Abrams was referring to an old career-based spreadsheet where she originally planned to run for the White House in 2028, but that her recent run and celebrity within the party changed her circumstances enough to bring that timeline up.

“Fact check: ‘ remarks at  were in reference to her years-old spreadsheet, not her current considerations. She is taking a look at all options on the table in 2020 and beyond,” Lauren Groh-Wargo said Monday afternoon. (RELATED: Stacey Abrams’ ‘Voter Suppression’ Attacks Legislation She Sponsored)

Abrams earlier indicated that she would announce a decision on her plans for the 2020 election cycle sometime in March or early April, and she didn’t announce a change in that timeline during the interview.

It’s also possible that she runs against Republican Sen. David Perdue in her home state of Georgia in 2020. She lost her 2018 gubernatorial bid by 1.4 percentage points, and she still has a sizeable campaign account that could translate into momentum in a Senate Race.

Abrams appeared to leave that door open later in the same interview.

“My task is to make certain that a Democrat is elected not only to the White House but that we have a Democratic majority in the Senate and a Democratic majority in Congress,” Abrams said.