Leading Democratic Fundraiser Louis Susman Backs Beto O’Rourke For 2020 Presidential Run

A leading Democratic fundraiser who helped former President Barack Obama raise money for his 2008 campaign has vowed to help Beto O’Rourke the same way, should he choose to run in 2020, according to a CNN report.

On Friday, Louis Susman, a former businessman and the would be kingmaker from Chicago, pledged his support for O’Rourke if the Texan runs against President Donald Trump in 2020.

Susman’s name is well known among Democratic candidates. He’s been one of the most energetic fundraisers for the Democratic cause for over a decade, and worked closely with both John Kerry and Barack Obama during their respective presidential runs.

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A menagerie of big name Democrats have hinted at their intentions to run for president during the next election cycle, including former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Kerry and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.

But out of all the prospective Democratic candidates expected to run for the nation’s highest office in 2020, Susman selected O’Rourke, the Party’s rising star, telling CNN, “It’s time to pass the torch to a new generation.”

“I have nothing against the Bidens and Kerrys of the world and all of these senators that are looking at it,” Susman added. “But I think the Beto example is what inspired people and what we are going to need.”

In November, O’Rourke ran a failed challenged against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R – Texas), losing the state’s Senate race by a narrow margin. Despite this, O’Rourke managed to gain significant support around the country.

While on campaign, the former Congressman expressed no interest in a 2020 bid for the presidency.

His opinion on the matter seems to have eased somewhat, since O’Rourke told reporters after an El Paso town hall that he and his wife “made a decision not to rule anything out.”

O’Rourke seems to have the tacit support of the former president as well. During an interview with “The Axe Files” podcast, Obama told host David Axelrod that O’Rourke was an “impressive young man” and that he “felt as if [O’Rourke] based his statements and his positions on what he believed.”

“And that, you’d like to think, is normally how things work. Sadly it’s not,” Obama added.