John Hickenlooper accepted blame for his faltering presidential campaign but vowed to stay in the 2020 race for the Democratic nomination.
“Certainly the vast majority of the problem with the campaign was me not being as good of a messenger as I need to be, but you can’t switch or trade in a new candidate,” the former Colorado governor said Sunday in Iowa.
“There’s just a bunch of skills that don’t come naturally to me,” he said, “like being a really good debater, being real smooth with wealthy donors. … I’m committed to growing and working and getting better.”
Several of the campaign’s top staffers quit after Hickenlooper brought in a fraction of donations compared to other candidates and failed to gain traction in the polls. Campaign manager Brad Komar, national finance director Dan Sorenson, communications director Lauren Hitt, digital director John Schueler, and New Hampshire political director Nolan Varee were among those who ditched the campaign.
“I realize I’m at 1% in the polls, and you know some of my own staff said, ‘Run for Senate’! I think Iowa is where that can be changed,” Hickenlooper said while visiting the state that is first to hold its presidential caucuses.
