Veteran political strategist James Carville stated that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has "no shot" at winning the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, citing her politics as too far-left for the party's primary electorate. Carville, who managed Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, expressed this view during an appearance on the "Greta Wire" podcast.
"The Democrats — not even in ’72 — never nominate the most liberal candidate," Carville said. He described the idea of the Democrats nominating a "socialist, urbanist" candidate as a "fantasy of the right wing."
While praising Ocasio-Cortez's political talent and staff work, Carville asserted that she would not run for president because she would not succeed. He highlighted the critical role of Black voters in Southern states, particularly South Carolina, in determining the Democratic nominee due to the primary calendar. "Remember who decides who the Democratic nominee is, and that is Southern Blacks," Carville stated. "And I got news for you: They’re not that liberal."
Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent figure associated with democratic socialism, has been frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for the White House or the Senate in 2028. She has not ruled out a presidential run in the future. Among other potential Democratic candidates for 2028, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Ocasio-Cortez typically ranks among the top five in polling.