Barkley’s Ultimatum: Shapiro-Moore or No Democratic Vote
NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has issued an unprecedented ultimatum to the Democratic Party, declaring he will permanently withdraw his support unless they nominate either Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro or Maryland Governor Wes Moore as their 2028 presidential candidate. The basketball legend and outspoken TNT analyst made this surprising declaration during an appearance on the “Sports Illustrated Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina,” potentially signaling broader frustration among independent voters with the party’s direction, according to Yahoo News.
“If the Democrats don’t get Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, or Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland – if they’re not the party’s leaders – I wouldn’t consider voting for anyone else,” Barkley stated firmly. The former NBA star doubled down on his position, adding: “If the Democratic Party does not pick one of those two, they’re going to lose my support forever as an Independent.”
This unequivocal declaration from one of sports media’s most prominent voices comes as Democrats begin early positioning for the post-Trump political landscape, with various potential candidates already generating speculation about their 2028 prospects.
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Young Governors Earn Powerful Sports Endorsement
Shapiro and Moore represent two of the Democratic Party’s most promising rising stars, both serving their first terms as governors of politically significant states. Shapiro, elected Pennsylvania’s governor in 2022, has built a reputation as a pragmatic leader who can appeal to voters across party lines in a crucial swing state. Moore made history in 2022 as Maryland’s first Black governor and has gained attention for his compelling personal story and leadership approach.
“I think Josh Shapiro is amazing. I think Wes Moore is amazing,” Barkley enthused during the podcast, offering no specific policy reasons for his preference but speaking with characteristic conviction about his choices, according to Yellowhammer News.
Barkley’s strong endorsement of these two governors comes at a time when early polling shows different potential frontrunners for the Democratic nomination. A recent Echelon Insights survey found former Vice President Kamala Harris leading among likely voters with 28% support, though this represents a 5% drop from previous polling. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker emerged in second place with 11% support – a significant jump from just 2% in earlier polling.
Sports Personalities Clash Over Political Aspirations
Barkley’s political commentary also included a pointed dismissal of ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith’s rumored political aspirations. Though Smith has previously expressed admiration for both Shapiro and Moore as potential candidates, he has also suggested he might consider a presidential run himself – an idea Barkley firmly rejected.
“Calm down, Stephen A. – Stephen A. is one of my friends, but come on, man, stop it,” Barkley said during the podcast. “It started as a joke, and he took it seriously. Come on, man. All I’m saying is, knock it off.” When directly asked if he would vote for Smith, Barkley was unequivocal, responding with a “hard ‘no,’ hard ‘no,'” according to AL.com.
The exchange between the two sports media personalities highlights how political discussions have become increasingly commonplace in sports broadcasting, with former athletes and commentators leveraging their platforms to influence public discourse.
Early 2028 Positioning Already Underway
While the 2028 presidential primary remains years away, political analysts have already begun speculating about potential candidates. Notably absent from Barkley’s shortlist of acceptable candidates is Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has been predicted by some analysts as a likely 2028 contender.
Polling analyst Nate Silver and former FiveThirtyEight podcast host Galen Druke recently predicted that Ocasio-Cortez would be the Democratic nominee in 2028. Druke specifically pointed to her current “Fight Oligarchy” tour with Senator Bernie Sanders as evidence of presidential ambitions, noting: “If you’ve been following her moves in terms of her ‘Fight Oligarchy’ tour, in terms of the kind of content she’s putting out on social media,” these suggest preparation for a national campaign.
Barkley also made it clear that his ultimatum doesn’t mean he would consider voting for Donald Trump, stating firmly, “I’m not ever gonna vote for Trump and he’s just not my cup of tea.” He added that Trump “obviously can’t run again,” referring to constitutional term limits, though reports suggest Trump has been floating the idea of seeking a third term.
As both major parties begin the long process of identifying their next generation of leaders, Barkley’s specific candidate preferences offer an interesting window into how some independent voters view the Democratic Party’s future prospects. Whether party leaders will heed such advice from voices outside the traditional political establishment remains uncertain, but the willingness of high-profile figures to issue such ultimatums suggests the stakes for 2028 nominations may be higher than many anticipate.
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