Impeachment trial weighs on 2020 Democrats

The reality of President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s looming impeachment trial hit the Democratic presidential field’s senators on Friday after House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Pelosi: Georgia primary ‘disgrace’ could preview an election debacle in November MORE (D-Calif.) signaled that she would move next week to send articles of impeachment to the Senate.

Pelosi’s announcement, made in a letter to colleagues on Friday morning, almost certainly guarantees that the five Democratic senators still running for their party’s presidential nomination will remain in Washington in the weeks leading up to the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3, depriving them of critical facetime with voters.

That could have palpable effects for Sens. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) in particular. The two remain highly competitive in Iowa and are among the candidates best positioned for top-tier finishes in the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

By taking Sanders and Warren off the campaign trail for what will likely be weeks, the impeachment trial could lend an advantage to their top rivals, former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE, who are polling at or near the top of the pack in Iowa.

But three other candidates — Sens. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.), Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J.) and Michael BennetMichael Farrand BennetSome realistic solutions for income inequality Democratic senators kneel during moment of silence for George Floyd 21 senators urge Pentagon against military use to curb nationwide protests MORE (D-Colo.) — are also banking on strong performances in the Hawkeye State to lend momentum to their presidential bids, and the impeachment trial will likely present an unwelcome obstacle.

Speaking at a fundraiser in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., on Thursday night, Klobuchar acknowledged the challenge that the impeachment trial would pose to her campaign in Iowa.

“If I am in the impeachment hearing, I’m going to need everyone on the ground in Iowa to help me,” Klobuchar said.

The impeachment trial may come with some perks for the presidential hopefuls that will act as its jurors. It will put them at the center of the closest-watched news story in the country, giving them a chance to show off their political chops before a national audience.

“This gives them an opportunity to show how strong, sharp and persuasive that they are,” said Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Sen. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE (D-N.Y.), pointing to the political boost Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (D-Calif.) received after her pointed line of questioning in the 2018 confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughGOP senators urge Trump to back off Murkowski threat Judd Gregg: A government in free fall The 7 most anticipated Supreme Court decisions MORE.

“It showed her sharpness, persuasiveness, strength,” Reinish said. “She was able to create viral moment after viral moment that in no small part really positioned her at the time to be an incredibly successful candidate, who could really break through and really show who she was.”

Harris entered the presidential race as a top contender last winter. She ended her campaign last month amid dwindling poll numbers and fundraising challenges.

Rep. Ro KhannaRohit (Ro) KhannaProgressive Caucus co-chair endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary Biden’s right, we need policing reform now – the House should quickly take up his call to action The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Association of American Railroads Ian Jefferies says no place for hate, racism or bigotry in rail industry or society; Trump declares victory in response to promising jobs report MORE (D-Calif.), one of Sanders’s campaign co-chairs, said he was not frustrated with Pelosi’s timing in sending the articles, saying it would not necessarily hinder the campaign.

“No, she can’t look at politics in making her determination, and I think she’s won the debate on explaining why we need witnesses to testify,” Khanna told reporters on Friday. “Look, there’s still going to be the debate, most likely on Tuesday. I don’t think the trial is going to start before then. You’re still going to have Sanders being able to go there on the weekends.”

Pelosi’s timeline for transmitting the impeachment articles to the Senate means a trial could start as soon as Wednesday. That means that a Democratic presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday will likely proceed as planned. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom PerezThomas Edward PerezClinton’s top five vice presidential picks Government social programs: Triumph of hope over evidence Labor’s ‘wasteful spending and mismanagement” at Workers’ Comp MORE said earlier this week that the forum could be rescheduled if it conflicted with the impeachment trial.

It’s unclear just how long the impeachment trial will last. But there’s little doubt that it will mean spending critical time off the campaign trail, especially in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, the first nominating contest of 2020 and one of the most crucial in the primary calendar. No Democrat since former President Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson ClintonWill the ‘law and order’ president pardon Roger Stone? Five ways America would take a hard left under Joe Biden The sad spectacle of Trump’s enablers MORE has won their party’s nomination without taking the top spot in the Iowa caucuses.

During the impeachment trial, the Senate will be in session six days a week. But Sanders and his rivals could still find time around the trial to hit the campaign trail, Khanna said.

“He’s going to have enough time in the state,” he said, adding that he is confident in the grassroots enthusiasm the campaign has built in Iowa and across the country.

Public polling in Iowa has been sparse in recent weeks, but recent surveys show a tight race between Warren, Sanders, Biden and Buttigieg.

A CBS News/YouGov survey released this week showed Sanders, Biden and Buttigieg tied at 23 percent, while Warren trailed in fourth place with 16 percent support. No other candidate notched double digits in that survey.

But the Senate trial could also train unwanted attention on Biden.

The impeachment proceedings began with accusations that Trump had sought to pressure Ukrainian officials to launch an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter. And Republicans have repeatedly accused the former vice president of working to oust a Ukrainian prosecutor who had investigated an energy company that employed his son.

Biden has strongly defended his actions, saying he sought the prosecutor’s ouster on behalf of the Obama administration because of concerns about corruption.

Even with their expected absence from the campaign trail, Warren and Sanders are sure to maintain a presence in Iowa. Both have massive political operations, including paid staffers and field offices, in the state, as well as the resources to fund aggressive advertising campaigns.

“[Sanders] has built an incredible amount of surrogates who will be going out for him,” Khanna said. “I expect that there will be more members of Congress endorsing him soon. He’s going to have a lot of surrogates out there as well.”

“One of the advantages of the campaign is, you know, some of our best days were when Bernie wasn’t even on the trail because of the enthusiasm and the grassroots effort after the incident he had with his heart,” he said, referring to Sanders’s heart attack last year.

For the race’s underdog candidates — those with smaller budgets and dwindling poll numbers — the impeachment trial may carry a heavier toll.

Booker, who registered just 2 percent in the CBS News/YouGov Iowa poll, acknowledged in an interview with The Associated Press this week that even if the trial were to last just a couple weeks, it would mean missing dozens of campaign events.

“If this trial lasts two weeks, that is literally dozens of events we won’t be able to do,” Booker told the news outlet.

Even so, the candidates are resigned to their fates. They can’t skip the impeachment trial, and they have cast the historic event as part of their constitutional responsibilities.

Asked in an interview on MSNBC this week whether she was concerned by the fact that Biden would be able to remain on the campaign trail while she is stuck in Washington for the trial, Warren insisted that “some things are more important than politics.”

“I’ll be where I’m supposed to be, and that is in the impeachment trial,” she said.

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