Trump mocks Beto O'Rourke's 2020 election hopes: 'You're supposed to win before you run for president'

The Texas Democrat is quickly becoming a favourite among Democrats as a potential 2020 presidential candidate

President Donald Trump has mocked Representative Beto O’Rourke, when White House reporters discussed the likelihood of the Texas Democrat running a president in 2020.

“I thought you were supposed to win before you run for president,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office who were there to cover the signing for a criminal justice reform bill.

Mr O’Rourke gained nationwide recognition for his remarkable Senate campaign that ultimately ended in defeat in November. The 46-year-old broke campaign records with an impressive fundraising numbers: $80 million without any donations from Political Action Committees.

His campaign, which some considered to be inspiring proof that deep-red Texas has the potential to go blue, prompted buzz and excitement around Mr O’Rourke’s chances of winning the 2020 presidential bid. A little over a month since the midterm election, several “draft Beto” groups have organised to start raising money for his potential White House bid.

It seems to be working since the Texas Democrat has become more welcoming to the suggestion of running for president.

Some early polling reveal that Mr O’Rourke is a top favourite among a list of likely 2020 presidential contenders. A recent MoveOn straw poll puts Mr O’Rourke first on a list of potential candidates. The polling done by Des Moines Register, CNN and Mediacom placed Mr O’Rourke third, behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders respectively.

Mr O’Rourke is not without criticism though. Recently, he has come under fire for accepting donations from oil industry workers, something the 2020 hopeful defended by clarifying that he also accepted donations from other employees in the “cosmetology industry, the telecommunications industry, the cupcake baking industry.”

“[It is] really important to remember we did not receive a single PAC [Political Action Committee] contribution,” he said.

In addition to accepting money from the oil-industry, progressives have criticism Mr O’Rourke for his seemingly centrist position. He has been criticised for his membership in the New Democrat Coalition for example.

The politician seems to be struggling to find his place in a rapidly leftward shifting Democratic Party. Despite a prominent senate campaign championing Medicare for all, drug legalisation and criminal justice reform, Mr O’Rourke is shying away from the progressive label.

“I don’t know. I’m just, as you may have seen and heard over the course of the campaign, I’m not big on labels,” the Texas congressman said to reporters, when pressed if he identifies as a progressive Democrat. “I don’t get all fired up about party or classifying or defining people based on a label or a group. I’m for everyone.”