{"id":94801,"date":"2019-04-05T19:00:52","date_gmt":"2019-04-06T01:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/michael-bennet-hits-pause-on-presidential-bid-until-cancer-free\/"},"modified":"2019-04-05T19:00:52","modified_gmt":"2019-04-06T01:00:52","slug":"michael-bennet-hits-pause-on-presidential-bid-until-cancer-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/michael-bennet-hits-pause-on-presidential-bid-until-cancer-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Bennet hits pause on presidential bid until cancer free"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Sen.
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., celebrates with his wife and children after winning the Democratic primary in August 2010. Bennet has been talked about as a potential presidential candidate in 2020, but a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer could derail those plans. He is expected to have surgery and make a formal announcement later this spring.<\/span>Associated Press file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The rumors had been circulating for months. Was Sen. Michael Bennet, the reserved, policy-driven Democrat from Colorado, going to throw his hat into the crowded field of presidential hopefuls?<\/p>\n

The signs were all there: The viral moment on the Senate floor<\/a>. The tentative campaign stops in Iowa. The speculations from reporters and cable news pundits. The relaunch of a health care plan with a fellow high-ranking senator. The book release in June. For those familiar with reading the waves of presidential campaigns, Bennet\u2019s announcement seemed inevitable.<\/p>\n

But when the announcement arrived late Wednesday evening, it came as a shock. The senator had been diagnosed last month with prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

While such a diagnosis is never easy, Bennet\u2019s prognosis is good, according to his statement. The senator will return to Colorado to undergo surgery during the Senate\u2019s upcoming recess starting April 11, his announcement said. After a short recovery period, he\u2019s expected to return to work.<\/p>\n

And, if all goes well, he will be returning to the campaign trail.<\/p>\n

\"Bennet\"
Bennet<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Shortly after Bennet\u2019s announcement, The Colorado Independent<\/em> dropped an exclusive interview with the senator<\/a>. The takeaway: Bennet still intended to announce a presidential campaign, if he received the cancer-free bill of health after surgery.<\/p>\n

The original plan, according to the article, had been to announce his campaign in April. They had hired staff and interviewed people in New Hampshire and Iowa. But then came the diagnosis almost three weeks ago. Yet, Bennet confirmed his intention to enter the pool of Democratic hopefuls.<\/p>\n

In his interview with the Independent<\/em>\u2019s Mike Littwin, Bennet said writing his book \u2013 \u201cThe Land of the Flickering Lights\u201d \u2013 was a catalyst for his decision to run. \u201cI didn\u2019t think the case that I made in the book was being articulated by anyone in the field. I wouldn\u2019t do it if I didn\u2019t think I had a chance to win. I think, like everyone else does, it\u2019s a long shot. But I think everyone in the field is a long shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bennet goes \u2018viral\u2019<\/div>\n

The speculations of a potential presidential bid were already quietly brewing in late 2018. The Associated Press reported in November that Bennet was in talks<\/a> with \u201cinfluential Iowa Democrats.\u201d A month later, Colorado Public Radio quoted three anonymous sources<\/a> close to the senator who said Bennet was \u201cseriously thinking\u201d about a 2020 run for president.<\/p>\n

The rumors of a presidential campaign from the reserved senator crept into the light after Bennet\u2019s viral speech on the Senate floor in January. As the government was stalled in its 34th day of a federal shutdown, Bennet made waves<\/a> Jan. 24 when he accused Sen. Ted Cruz of \u201ccrocodile tears\u201d and causing the 2013 government shutdown while Colorado suffered the consequences.<\/p>\n

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