SEATTLE — Howard Schultz followed up last night's appearance on CBS 60 Minutes with a new video on Twitter.
“What better expression for our democracy, than to give the American people a choice that they deserve,” Schultz posted.
Schultz told 60 Minutes that he's seriously thinking of running for president, calling himself a “centrist independent”.
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“I look at both parties. We see extremes on both sides,” Schultz said.
In the past, Schultz has said he's a Democrat. Now, Washington Democrats fear he'd siphon just enough votes away from the Democratic candidate to hand Donald Trump a re-election victory.
“Two percent of the vote, 3 percent of the vote, 4 percent of the vote, we can't afford to be split in this race against Donald Trump,” said Washington Democratic Chair Tina Podlodowski.
This morning, Trump asserted on Twitter that "Howard Schultz doesn't have the guts to run for president.”
Chris Vance used to head the Washington Republican party, but he left to become an independent, like Schultz. Asked if Shultz will be a spoiler who tips the election to Trump, he responded emphatically, “No offense, I'm sick of that. I'm sick of that question…people think that these two street gangs, Republicans and democrats are the only ones allowed to run. That's crazy.”
People at the first Starbucks in Pike Place Market had mixed feelings about Schultz, who's worth $3.3 billion.
“I think he probably would be good,” Fely Foy said.
But Hanna Johnson had reservations when asked about replacing one billionaire president with another: “Going from past billionaires going for office, I'm not sure if that's something I'm confident in,”
And no one we met wanted Schultz to be a spoiler who sets up a Donald Trump victory in 2020.
“If he's a spoiler, it can only be bad for the Democrats and I'd hate to see that,” Peter Foy said.
Also, no one forgets that Schultz sold the Sonics basketball team he once owned.
“It feels like, you know, Howard got a little frustrated and within a year or two decided he didn't want to deal with it. That sounds kind of like Donald Trump. He's getting a little frustrated. He doesn't understand how government works,” Podlodowski said.
Podlodowski is scheduled to speak at a protest rally Thursday, when Howard Schultz appears in Seattle as part of his book tour.