Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Monday called for a "revival of civic grace," while responding to President Donald Trump's contention he sees "no chance" Booker will be a challenge in the 2020 presidential race.
"I think every American knows about being underestimated, being demeaned or just put down," Booker told "CBS This Morning." "It's something I faced all my political career in Newark going up against the machine. Look, the history of our country is a history of people underestimating this nation and doing impossible things, so we don't need a president that's going to put down people or divide people."
Trump told CBS News' Margaret Brennan in an interview airing before Sunday's Super Bowl game that he does not think Booker has a chance in the election "because I know him."
Trump also said he is not worried about anybody in the expanding number of Democratic candidates, as he is "not impressed with their group."
The country needs a leader that will remind Americans that there is a "common pain" and a "common purpose," including with the issue of healthcare, said Booker on Monday. He supports a "Medicare for All" single payer plan, as do many other Democrats.
"Everybody agrees that in the United States of America that we should never have somebody who does not have access to care because they can't afford it," said Booker.
Lawmakers must focus on methods supported by the majority of Americans to "massively expand access to healthcare and lower the costs," he added.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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