Cook Political Report Editor Says Impeachment Inquiry Is Risky Move For Democrats

(The Hill) Cameron Hill 10/02/19 12:24 PM The founder and editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report said Tuesday that Democrats are making a risky move with their impeachment inquiry into President Trump. If I were Democrats I dont think I would do this" Charlie Cook whose publication analyzes election trends and forecasts outcomes said at an event hosted by Hill Center DC. It sucks all the oxygen out of the room" ahead of the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries Cook said and could undermine Democratic efforts to oust Trump next year. If I were a Democrat I would want every bit of the energy to be focused on winning the Nov. 3 election and not on this regardless of what the merits may be" Cook added. I think having a focus on the election and impeachment are somewhat contradictory." Cook said an impeachment process that did not result in Trumps conviction by the Senate an outcome Cook called nonexistent" given the Senates Republican majority would give the president a victory ahead of the general election. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was correct the first time" in her initial reluctance to pursue a formal impeachment inquiry after the Mueller report Cook said. Im not entirely convinced that shes changed her mind" he added but said she had no choice but to approve the process in the wake of the whistleblower complaint against Trump and calls from House Democrats to initiate an inquiry. After all this Ukraine stuff started there was sort of no point in digging in her heels. It was going to go to another level whether she was on board or not" Cook said.