Stephen A. Smith is veritably stunned he’s even being considered for a presidential run.
The sports commentator earned 2% of the vote in a recent McLaughlin & Associates poll asking 414 people to choose from a list of hypothetical Democratic candidates ahead of the 2028 election. That was only 1 point behind Tim Walz — the party’s former vice presidential nominee.
Smith decried those results Thursday on Fox News while chatting with host Sean Hannity.
“I think the fact that I am a candidate for the presidency of the United States of America, according to the polling for the Democratic Party, is the most clear-cut evidence of how pathetic of a state of affairs that exists within the Democratic Party today,” he told Hannity.
While some would think twice before dismissing such favorable polling, Smith betrayed no ounce of flattery Thursday.
“I have no business being on that list, whatsoever,” Smith continued. “I am not qualified.”
Smith has been extremely critical of President Donald Trump and his administration, not only calling his defense secretary Pete Hegseth unqualified for the job, but slamming Trump’s plan for the U.S. to rebuild Gaza into a lucrative “Riviera of the Middle East.”
In addition to his criticisms of the Republican Party, he also blamed liberals after Trump’s reelection for failing to offer voters a vision of the future “closer to normal.”
Smith said in November he’d consider running for president himself if he had a “legitimate shot.” Earlier this month, he said he “might entertain” it because “the Democratic Party looks so pathetic after this election,” inspiring polarized reactions from both sides of the aisle.
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At the time, Democratic strategist James Carville, who was convinced Vice President Kamala Harris would beat Trump, said Smith doesn’t know his “asshole from a hole in the ground.” Right-wing news outlet Breitbart seemed to praise Smith by calling him “a bad fit” for Democrats.
Whether Smith is playing the long game by graciously refusing the call to service remains to be seen. Regardless of his private intentions, several glowing op-eds have touted Smith as a potential savior of the Democratic party.