“I sort of hope it’s Joe because he will hear ‘where’s Hunter’ every single debate, nine times a debate.”

— President Trump, quoted by Fox News, claiming he wants Joe Biden to be the Democratic nominee.

Cook Political Report: “Ultimately Kansas shouldn’t be a headache for the GOP, but it’s quickly becoming one. And as long as Kobach looks like the likely nominee ⁠— barring a reversal from Pompeo or a stronger showing from Marshall or Wagle or another candidate ⁠— that gives Democrats a much more plausible path. Given those dynamics, we’re moving this race to the Lean Republican column.”

“Michael Bloomberg’s massive campaign apparatus and an army of some 500 staffers will march on through the general election in November even if he loses the Democratic nomination, shifting their efforts toward working to elect whoever the party selects to face President Trump,” NBC News reports.

“Bloomberg’s vast tech operation will also be redirected to help the eventual nominee, as Democrats struggle to compete with the vaunted digital operation built by Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale. Hawkfish, a digital company started by Bloomberg that’s carrying out his $100 million online ad campaign, will be retained through Election Day to help defeat President Trump.”

Said campaign manager Kevin Sheekey: “Mike Bloomberg is either going to be the nominee or the most important person supporting the Democratic nominee for president. He is dedicated to getting Trump out of the White House.”

“Elizabeth Warren is often portrayed in media as a figure of the left-wing, locked in a battle with Bernie Sanders for the progressive base of the party. In fact, polling frequently shows she’s the second choice not just of Sanders voters, but of Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg supporters, too,” Politico reports.

“Seeking a spark heading into the Iowa caucuses, Warren and her allies are making a surprising closing argument: That she’s best positioned to unite and excite the party — and is therefore the most electable.”

Nate Cohn: “The explanation for Mr. Steyer’s surge is straightforward: uncontested dominance of the airwaves. According to FiveThirtyEight’s ad spending tracker, he has spent more on television advertisements than all other candidates combined — not counting the other billionaire in the race, Michael Bloomberg.”

“In contrast with Mr. Bloomberg, Mr. Steyer’s advertisements are concentrated in the four early states, though his spending in Iowa and New Hampshire has not yielded a similar breakthrough. That’s probably because other candidates are spending there. There may be another reason: Perhaps there’s more to the claim than many assume that Iowa and New Hampshire take their responsibilities at the top of the calendar more seriously than other states.”

“The Fox polls suggest that Mr. Steyer has made broad gains among Democratic voters, spanning most age, educational, racial and ideological groups. The breadth of his support is fairly impressive, given that the Democratic electorate has often split along factional lines so far this cycle. The depth of his support is untested, though.”