The growing influence of talk show host Stephen Colbert with left-leaning voters is once again on full display tonight as California Rep. Eric Swalwell became the second Democrat to announce their 2020 White House bids on The Late Show.
Swalwell, 38, followed New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s announcement on Colbert’s show in January.
“You’ve been very critical of President Trump; you’ve called him a wrecking ball, a Russian agent,” Colbert said, asking what he can do, by way of setting up the Democratic congressman’s announcement.
Swalwell began his statement, declaring democracy “on the ropes.”
“I see a country in quicksand, unable to solve problems and threats from abroad, unable to make life better for people here at home,” Swalwell said. The congressman said he talks to people who feel like they’re running in place and kids who sit in classrooms afraid they’ll be the next victim of gun violence, while lawmakers love guns more than kids.
“I’m ready to solve these problems. I’m running for president of the United States,” he finished.
After a brief pause, he added, “Boy, did it feel good to say that!”
Swalwell becomes the second Dem to receive a special pin that reads: “I Announced on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Gillibrand in January told the CBS late-night host, “I’m going to run for president of the United States because as a young mom, I’m going to fight for other people’s kids as hard as I would fight for my own.”
In return, Colbert presented her with the pin and a plane ticket to Michigan “so you will campaign there” in a not-even-veiled dig at Hillary Clinton.
Colbert had hoped to set the record that month.
Days before Gillibrand announced, Colbert came this close to snaring his first official presidential bid announcement, when Sen. Kamala Harris of California appeared on his show to tout her new book.
“Many people who put out books two years before a presidential election do so to introduce themselves in a broad way to the American people,” Colbert said to her. “Are you going to run for president?”
In response, Harris smiled coyly and said, “I might.”
She then broke out laughing as Colbert’s crowd reacted wildly.
Not yet ready to throw in the towel, Colbert said he’d read she planned to announce on MLK Day, asking if he should leave his bookings open for that night.
She ducked the question. (Kamala eventually made her “official” announcement on ABC’s Good Morning America.)
Swalwell joins a dense Democratic primary field that includes former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Cory Booker, Sec. Julian Castro, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Gov. Jay Inslee, and Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Rep. Tim Ryan.