Run, Beto, run

 Washington, DC

Ever since America elected Donald Trump, Democrats have fantasised about removing him from power. They’ve dreamed of impeaching him; of declaring him insane; of arresting him and parking tanks on the White House lawn. They’ve even thought about assassinating him. If you think that is an exaggeration, look up Kathy Griffin, the feminist comedian, who held up a severed Trump head, Isis-style. She wasn’t joking. The latest fantasy is more democratic in spirit. It takes the form of Texan congressman Beto O’Rourke, a skinny former punk-rock guitarist who oozes star appeal. Progressive America is going wild for him. Beto is now widely talked about as the man to beat Trump in 2020. In the midterms, he lost a close Senate race against Ted Cruz in Texas, but nobody seems to hold that against him. American politics revolves around looks and money; Beto looks good and attracts lots of money. For his fight against Cruz, he raised $70 million. This week, he came third in a presidential primary poll among Democratic voters, behind former vice president Joe Biden and senator Bernie Sanders. Biden is 76, Bernie 77, whereas Beto is 46, roughly the same age as Barack Obama when he ran for president. ‘Betomania’ is reminiscent of Obama-mania in the late Noughties; the men have the same initials, too. Like Obama, O’Rourke excels at what Sarah Palin called ‘that hopey-changey stuff’. He’s energetic and positive. He has lots of irritatingly upbeat young fans. Celebrities fell over themselves to endorse him in his midterm race: Beyoncé, LeBron James, Eva Longoria, Ellen DeGeneres and more. ‘He’s Obama, but white,’ said one Democratic operative this week. ‘All the guy would have to do is send out one email to his fundraising base and he raises $30 million… It completely changes the game if Beto runs.