| | | | The Obama primary is underway | | There's no debate within the Democratic Party about who its most popular politician is: It's Barack Obama, by a lot.
So it's not terribly surprising that as ambitious Democratic candidates begin the arduous process of considering whether to run against President Donald Trump, they are seeking Obama's counsel.
Already 10 potential 2020ers have huddled privately with Obama to talk through the state of the country and the state of the party, according to CNN's Dan Merica. (Here's the list: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; former Vice President Joe Biden; former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Peter Buttigieg; former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander; and former Attorney General Eric Holder.)
"He has been very clear about the need for the Democratic Party to rebuild and part of that is lifting up the next generation of leaders," a Democratic source told Merica. "So if people want advice or a gut check or just to come in and look at the challenges we face, he is happy to do that."
It's a near-certainty that Obama won't endorse any candidate in what promises to be a massive 2020 Democratic field. (Unless, of course, his wife, Michelle, runs.) Remember that Obama chose to remain neutral in the 2016 primary fight between Sanders and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He only endorsed Clinton after the last primary votes had been cast, in early June 2016.
Simply because Obama isn't likely to offer a formal endorsement of a candidate doesn't mean candidates won't be trying like hell to give off the impression that the former president likes them and their ideas best.
You can imagine, say, Cory Booker in Iowa in December 2019, saying something like: "When I sat down with former President Obama, he and I agreed that etc. etc. etc. ..."
Then there is the inevitable tea leaf-reading that goes with former high-ranking Obama staffers or major donors signing on with one of the 2020 candidates. That -- the stuff on which the so-called "Invisible Primary" largely depends -- was almost totally absent during the 2016 race because almost everyone who was anyone in Obamaworld was on Clinton's side.
There is no Clinton -- or Clinton-like front-runner figure -- in the race this time. If Biden runs -- and all signs point to that he will -- he will likely scoop up a number of donors and senior staff who aided Obama. But Biden has his own universe of political types and it predates his time as Obama's veep, meaning that simply assuming the former Delaware senator will be "Obama's guy" in 2020 may well miss the mark.
The Point: That Obama is taking meetings with presidential aspirants at all belies the idea prevalent in some Democratic circles that he had little interest in shaping the party -- and, potentially, the presidency -- going forward. Obama is clearly interested. We just don't know yet in whom.
-- Chris | | SINGAPORE SUMMIT: REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK | | CNN's Betsy Klein is one of the all-star members of CNN's team on the ground in Singapore covering the historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. She wrote a preview for us for tonight's Point of what to expect.
There are about 5,000 members of the media here in town for the occasion, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The stage is set and now we wait for that first one-on-one meeting.
Trump has said he'll know within the first minute of meeting Kim whether he's serious about denuclearization -- which reminds me of a magazine study I read once that said you know within 90 seconds if your date is "the one." After the one-on-one, a bilateral meeting, and a lunch, the President is set to give a press conference later in the day. Since I arrived yesterday, I've noticed a sense of solemn anticipation for the summit. Walking around town Monday afternoon, I inadvertently got held at a crosswalk as the President's motorcade reached the Istana for a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister. As Trump pulled in, there was near silence on the sidewalks as crowds of onlookers pulled out their cameras to record the moment, a few waving. A church along the route displayed a sign with Trump and Kim's likenesses, reading, "Real peace is not only the absence of war, but the presence of God."
Meanwhile, I've been eating my way through Singapore as I've tried to adjust to this 12-hour time difference, and the diverse culinary culture of this town is nothing short of incredible. Chilli crab, dumplings, all the noodles, chicken rice, pork ribs soup, pig tail (really), roast duck, green tea Kit-Kats -- there have been no bad meals and our hosts have been so gracious. It's hard to predict what will happen when the two unpredictable leaders meet, but we'll be standing by (and probably eating).
Follow along with more of CNN's coverage here. Trump and Kim will meet at the Capella Hotel on Singapore's Sentosa Island at 9 p.m. ET June 11 (which is 9 a.m. in Singapore on June 12). | | | The Tony Awards were on Sunday night! Here's a great playlist on Spotify of songs from nominated musicals, including best musical winner "The Band's Visit." Or if you are looking for a good cry, watch Marjory Stoneman Douglas students sing "Seasons of Love" from "Rent" in an emotional performance at the Tonys. | | | Point readers -- don't forget to ask Chris one question about the news this week that you need more clarity on. Submit your weekly question to saba.hamedy@cnn.com by Wednesday at noon ET. Chris will pick one reader's question to answer on Friday, and we'll include the response in the newsletter and on CNN Politics' Instagram story. | | | | Today's topic: Don't get caught up in the Singapore summit's theatrics. | | SCOTUS RULES ON OHIO'S VOTER ROLLS | | From CNN's Ariane de Vogue: "The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that Ohio's method of removing names from its voter rolls does not violate federal law. The decision was 5-4.
"Monday's ruling concerning the battleground state comes as the country gears up for midterm elections this fall. At least six other states have similar laws, and the ruling could embolden others to follow suit and enact what critics say are aggressive purges of voter rolls. Ohio law allows the state to send address confirmation notices to voters who have not engaged in voter activity for two years. If a voter returns the notice through prepaid mail, or responds online, the information is updated. If the notice is ignored and the voter fails to update a registration over the next four years, the registration is canceled."
Read more here. | | ICYMI: G7 -- AND THE AFTERMATH | | Before heading to Singapore to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump spent time at the G7 summit in Canada where he ruffled feathers of many allies. On Friday, Trump called for Russia to be added to the summit to restore it to the G8, a statement that Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sasse called "weak."
Then, Trump engaged in a public spat with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a move that even a handful of lawmakers in the President's own party are questioning (read about lawmakers' skeptical reaction to Trump's G7 strategy in this story by CNN's Lauren Fox and Daniella Diaz). On Saturday, Trump also pulled the US endorsement of the summit communique -- a joint statement that was signed by all the other G7 participants: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
As Chris wrote, "Whatever happens in Singapore over the next day or two, it's uniquely possible -- and maybe even likely -- that what Trump did in Quebec on Friday and Saturday will matter more in the country's long-term geopolitical future, and not in a good way." Read more of his thoughts here. | | ASYLUM PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AXED | | CNN's Tal Kopan reports: "The Trump administration Monday overturned asylum protections for domestic violence victims in a decision that could affect thousands of asylum seekers from Central America.
"The move from Attorney General Jeff Sessions specifically addresses domestic violence victims from Central America and ruled that a 2014 Board of Immigration Appeals decision protecting such women was wrongly decided. But it will have broader implications for any victims of crime or violence in countries that can't or won't protect them -- a rampant issue in Central America and beyond."
Read more here. | | | From Brenna: "Getting introduced at a thing is one of the most awkward moments you can find yourself in. Amiright, AG Sessions? You end up looking awkward or like you think very highly of yourself. There's not a whole lot of winning." Help us win Monday by telling people you know to subscribe to The Point. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
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