Jon Favreau, Barack Obama’s former speechwriter, said he was “glad” Beto O’Rourke was in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and that the former contender showed “real” courage.
“Most people who’ve actually met Beto in person will tell you the same thing: he’s incredibly decent, kind, inspiring, and in public service for the right reasons,” Favreau said Friday after O’Rourke announced he was dropping out of the primary. “He showed real political courage on issues from impeachment to gun safety, and I’m glad his voice was in this race.”
Most people who’ve actually met Beto in person will tell you the same thing: he’s incredibly decent, kind, inspiring, and in public service for the right reasons. He showed real political courage on issues from impeachment to gun safety, and I’m glad his voice was in this race.
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) November 1, 2019
O’Rourke announced he was ending his 2020 campaign on Friday after he had lost momentum in the race and was polling consistently at 1%-2% in the primary.
I am grateful to all the people who made up the heart and soul of this campaign. You were among the hundreds of thousands who made a donation, signed up to volunteer or spread the word about this campaign and our opportunity to help decide the election of our lifetime.
— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) November 1, 2019
The announcement came even after the former Texas congressman had tried to revamp his campaign in the wake of the August mass shooting in his hometown in El Paso.
Favreau was hailed as a 27-year-old wonder boy writing speeches for Obama during his 2008 campaign. Weeks after Obama won his election, a photo of Favreau groping a Hillary Clinton cardboard cutout surfaced online. He was forced to apologize, and the Clinton camp quickly forgave him despite some critics saying his groping amounted to “disempowerment” and “denigration” of the former presidential candidate.
The speechwriter went on to become part ofthe Pod Save America podcast along with several other Obama alums.
