Sportscaster Stephen A. Smith says he is heeding his pastor’s advice by keeping the door open to running for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
The ESPN hot take guru said that his public remarks about a 2028 presidential bid have piqued the interest of elected Democrats, deep-pocketed donors, and his spiritual guru.
“I couldn’t be happier, but here is the reality — people literally have walked up to me — including my own pastor for crying outloud who has said to me you don’t know what God has planned for you, at least show the respect to the people who believe in you, who respect you, who believe that you can make a difference in this country to leave the door open for any possibilities two to three years down the line,” Mr. Smith said Sunday on ABC News’ “This Week.”
In previous interviews, Mr. Smith, who says he is Christian, has said he considers Pastor A.R. Bernard his spiritual father. Mr. Bernard is the CEO and founder of the Christian Cultural Center megachurch in Brooklyn, New York.
Mr. Smith has credited Mr. Bernard with helping him find forgiveness for his father and, at least for the moment, keeping the door open to a White House run.
Mr. Smith said that there are more qualified individuals for the job, including Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
However, he said he must keep the door open, given the lack of Democratic leadership in Washington and President Trump’s suggestions that he could circumvent the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment to run for a third term.
“If any GOP member, if any Republican, supports that, I don’t want to hear a word out of their mouth ever again about following the Constitution, the Constitution, the Constitution,” Mr. Smith said. “That is what they have been living off for years and then you are talking about circumventing the 22nd Amendment and you think that is cool — no way!”
“I would hope someone would step up who is more qualified than me, but if it has to come down to me, it is something I would consider — yes,” he said of his political future. “I would because I don’t mind the idea of tusslin’ with these folks at all — on the left and on the right.”
“All of them disgust me, to be quite honest with you,” Mr. Smith said.
