Massachusetts Democrats are still absorbing the news that U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren is now publicly considering a run for president.
Warren is on the ballot this fall for another term in the senate, but she now says, after that, she'll take a hard a look at running for president.
Chris Myhrum, a Democrat who lives in Longmeadow, called Warren a "tremendous senator and person." But he added, "I think even though we've had an African-American president, I'm not sure the United States is ready for a woman president. Our bias in that respect runs even deeper than our racial biases. I'm not sure she'd make a great president. Some people say she's just too smart."
Mary Hannon, a Democrat who lives in Williamsburg, said she's not in favor of Warren running.
"I think we need someone who's going to win, and I don't think she can win," Hannon said. "I don't think anyone from Massachusetts should run. We need a Democrat, but I don't think we need -- unfortunately -- Elizabeth Warren. Not the right time."
Hannon isn't alone in her skepticism. A recent Suffolk University poll found 58 percent of likely Massachusetts voters said Warren should not enter the race.
The poll also found that more voters than not were against four other Massachusetts politicians running for president in 2020. They are Deval Patrick, John Kerry, and two congressmen: Seth Moulton and Joe Kennedy.
If Warren does run, she'd miss a lot of Senate votes while campaigning.
Jo Anne Sickles of Springfield is all in favor of Warren entering the race, and said the potential absences don't concern her.
"Didn't Obama miss votes in the Senate when he ran for president -- and did he get the presidency?" Sickles asked. "There's your answer."
Warren is well ahead in all polls looking at her re-election campaign this fall. She faces Republican Geoff Diehl and Independent Shiva Ayyadurai.
