Joe Walsh 2020 presidential campaign
Former U.S. representative Joe Walsh's campaign for President of the United States in the 2020 election began on August 25, 2019, when he announced his candidacy during an interview on ABC's show This Week, concurrently with the release of a video and a tweet. Walsh was challenging incumbent Donald Trump for the Republican nomination, along with former Governor of Massachusetts Bill Weld. Walsh had been a strong supporter of Trump's during the 2016 election but had gradually become disenchanted with the President, describing him as "morally unfit". In view of Trump's high popularity among Republicans and Walsh's own history of controversial statements, Walsh was considered a long-shot candidate for the nomination. He announced the suspension of his campaign on February 7, 2020, after poor results in the Iowa caucuses.
Walsh For President
Joe Walsh
U.S. representative from IL-08 (2011–2013)
August 25, 2019
February 7, 2020
Lucy Caldwell (campaign manager)[1]
US$480,115.17[2] (12/31/2019)
Be Brave
Campaign[edit]
After months of speculation, Walsh officially announced he would challenge Donald Trump on August 25, 2019, via a post made on Twitter and a video released on his website, alongside an interview on ABC's This Week. Walsh commented his candidacy was more focused on Trump's character than it was on the issues, stating, "I'm running against Trump because he's morally unfit. Period. It's about Trump. It's not about the issues. It's about Trump."[23] In another interview, Walsh referred to the election as a "referendum" on Trump.[24] In an interview with MSNBC shortly after announcing his candidacy, Walsh said that, should he be unsuccessful against Trump, he could be persuaded to vote for the Democratic nominee in the general election. He added "I will never vote for Donald Trump again."[25]
Due to President Trump's high approval ratings among Republican voters and Walsh's controversial past statements, he was considered a long-shot candidate for the presidency. Walsh began apologizing for his past controversial statements, including rescinding his remarks that Barack Obama is Muslim.[24] Trump's approval rating among Republicans hac remained above 80% since the end of 2017.[26][27]
On August 26, 2019, a day after announcing his campaign for president, Walsh announced he had lost his national radio syndication contract with the Salem Radio Network. Walsh's show will still air on Chicago's WIND until his paperwork to run is officially filed, then will likely be suspended or discontinued.[28] Walsh stated that without his radio show, he planned to campaign "full time".[23]
On September 6, 2019, Walsh appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher where host Bill Maher condemned a report that Republican primaries and caucuses were being canceled in the states of South Carolina, Nevada, Arizona, and Kansas before remarking that Walsh would have lost anyway.[29]
On November 8, 2019, Walsh said in an interview that he would be more "pro-Israel" than Trump and stated that he would push for a one-state solution from Jordan to the Mediterranean if elected president.[30]
In an interview with CNN on February 7, 2020, Walsh announced he was suspending his campaign after receiving only 1.1% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses. Walsh called the Republican Party a "cult" and suggested that he would likely support the Democratic nominee in the general election, stating he would rather have a devout socialist win the election than Trump.[31] According to Walsh, no one could beat Trump in a Republican primary, because Trump supporters had become "followers" who think that Trump "can do no wrong," after absorbing misinformation "from 'conservative' media." He added, "They don't know what the truth is and — more importantly — they don't care."[32]