Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), whose close loss in the Texas Senate race has prompted endless speculation about his future, met with former President Barack Obama last month to discuss a possible 2020 presidential bid, according to a Tuesday Washington Post report.
The meeting, which reportedly took place at Obama’s D.C. office, is the most recent sign that O’Rourke is seriously considering challenging President Donald Trump. Many are tracking him, based on the barrage of phone calls he’s been inundated with from potential staffers and the TMZ crew currently following his every move.
Per the Post, O’Rourke said he was considering a run at a town hall in El Paso last week, but that he’s still talking things over with his family.
Obama has made flattering comments about O’Rourke before, telling his former staffer David Axelrod in a podcast episode that O’Rourke is an “impressive young man” with a similar campaign style to himself.
However, per the Post, O’Rourke eschewed Obama’s endorsement during his 2018 race due to his reluctance to use high-profile surrogates. Also, Obama endorsed his opponent during his 2012 House race, a snub that O’Rourke has not yet forgotten.
