WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Avenatti's confident flirtation with a presidential run is being closely watched by Democrats in Washington and key political battleground states with a mix of intrigue and trepidation.
President Donald Trump's victory over more experienced politicians in the 2016 campaign has reshaped traditional views of who would make a viable presidential candidate. Yet some party leaders are worried about trying to replicate Trump's approach by backing another untested and unpredictable candidate.
That concern that was heightened after Avenatti's involvement in the recent Supreme Court confirmation fight.
Still, Avenatti has so far managed to stand out among the senators, governors and mayors expected to vie for the Democratic presidential nomination. Early state operatives are offering him advice, and he's sold out Democratic Party dinners in Iowa and New Hampshire.
