CHICAGO — Michael Avenatti joined the Democratic National Committee in Chicago Thursday for the start to a three-day meeting where they’ll vote on major reforms to the 2020 presidential nominating process.
Keeping talk of a possible 2020 bid alive, Avenatti spoke to a group of Democrats about his work combating President Trump’s zero tolerance policy on border crossings, saying the president implemented the policy to send a message “to the rest of the world to not come to America.”
Coming off swings through Iowa, New Hampshire, and Florida, Avenatti said he’ll be at the DNC meeting in Chicago for two days. Avenatti rocketed onto the political scene earlier this year as Stormy Daniels’ attorney, making the rounds on cable TV. As for his presidential ambitions, he said he doesn’t have a timeline for his decision.
“I’ve been extremely humbled and flattered by the support that I have received,” he said, noting that he’s been invited to speak at a number of Democratic fundraisers for 2018 candidates.
During his travels, Avenatti said, most people know him based on his TV appearances, but “when people hear me speak and I answer questions about the issues they’re taken aback in a significant way because they realize … that I’m not just some TV head.”
[More: Michael Avenatti shows up at the VMAs, says he’s ‘serious’ about challenging Trump in 2020]
Asked about his position on the DNC’s proposed reform to scale back the influence of superdelegates during the presidential nominating process, Avenatti declined to comment, saying he doesn’t have all the facts.
“I’m not going to answer the question because i have not formed a definitive position on the issue,” he said. Avenatti also didn’t have a position on the recent calls from Texas Democrats to decriminalize unauthorized border crossings.
And on the case of Mollie Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student killed by an undocumented Mexican immigrant, Avenatti said it shouldn’t be used for politics by either party.
“Any candidate or party that tries to politicize that should face the wrath of voters and, frankly, society,” Avenatti said. “If that was my daughter the last thing in the world I would want is some political party or candidate using that death as an example to further their own agenda.”
Avenatti took a soft jab at other 2020 hopefuls for not outright saying they are seriously considering challenging Trump.
“I’ve never understood this idea of not shooting straight with people. Why don’t people just come out and say, ‘Yeah, I’m seriously considering running for president?’ So when somebody asks me if I’m seriously considering running for president I say yeah,” said Avenatti. “I’m filling a void but at the same time I think I’m a man of substance.”
