Democrat presidential candidate Jason Palmer wants 'religion to come back into public life'
CP: Why are you running against Biden?
Palmer: I'm running for president because I think it's very important that there be a positive, optimistic vision of the future. The reason why so many people are feeling disenfranchised or dissatisfied with their choices is because it's … a nasty fight, and somebody needs to actually be offering a positive vision of the future.
To be honest with you, I don't even think of myself as running against Biden. I actually think of myself as offering this positive, optimistic vision, and Biden is so far ahead of me in delegates, it's almost like we're in completely different races.
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CP: If you were in a Democratic administration, what job would you be suited for if not president? Where is your expertise in terms of an administration? Do you have plans if your candidacy does not succeed?
Palmer: I am pursuing the presidency, but I know I have only the tiniest of chances of winning that. If I don't win president, I'm looking at returning to be an impact investor again.
I'm also looking at being a surrogate for the Democratic nominee, and I'm also looking at starting a new organization to try to register voters, invest in down-ballot races and find other ways to be useful because this is the election of our generation.
It's a really important election, and I think it's critical that cutting-edge, commonsense candidates get elected and that we return our politics to civility, positive, optimistic collaboration … the messages I'm running on.
CP: What has your relationship been like with the Democratic National Committee? Have you faced any backlash for your decision to run?
Palmer: They have almost ignored my candidacy, but I'm hopeful to now be a collaborator with them and … am actively trying to engage to be a positive force for Biden at the Convention in Chicago in August because, as you know, Joe Biden has won enough votes or at least enough delegates to be the presumptive nominee.
When this happened in the last election, other candidates like Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders found ways to collaborate with the winner, who was Biden last time. And I want to be an equally collaborative supporter. … It's super important that the Democratic nominee win in November.
CP: You're still actively campaigning, though, right?
Palmer: I am still actively campaigning. I have not suspended my campaign and there is a couple reasons for that. One is … I just won American Samoa a couple weeks ago, and it's very important that I represent them and that we bring their case to the convention in Chicago. And those are not pledged delegates, those are delegates that I have won. If I suspended my campaign, it is unclear from the rules what would happen to those delegates.
CP: Who are you considering to be as your vice president?
Palmer: I haven't nominated anybody, but I think it is important that it be someone … who is not also a white male, and I think it [is] important that it [be] someone with prior significant legislative experience because working with the legislature is such a key part of the presidential role.
My background is more CEO executive leadership … board chair, and I don't have the legislative experience, and also I don't have a law degree. So, in a perfect world, it would be someone with legislative experience in Congress, a law degree … [and] someone who is not also a white male.
CP: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Palmer: My religion is very important to me, my Quakerism. But the president of the United States has to be open and tolerant of all the diverse religious backgrounds in America. I think that … we should all be able to show more of our religion in public life. And … that's one thing I would like to change if I became president or if I take some other role in a future administration.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
