Stephen A. Smith, a 57-year-old native of the Bronx and a renowned ESPN personality, recently made headlines with his intriguing remarks about the possibility of a future presidential run. In an interview with CNBC Sport, Smith expressed his interest in holding the highest office in the United States. However, he candidly admitted that he has no desire to engage in traditional campaigning. Smith's outspoken nature and confidence in his debating skills have led him to entertain the idea of bypassing the campaign trail, focusing instead on excelling in presidential debates.
Despite his reluctance to campaign, Smith, who is known for his forthrightness, has not ruled out a potential run for president. He highlighted his willingness to take on the role of president if it meant making a significant impact on a global scale.
"If you tell me that I could catapult to the White House, and I could be in a position to affect millions upon millions of lives, not just in America, but the world over, yeah, that's something that I would entertain." – Stephen A. Smith
Smith's comments reflect his belief that he could excel as a candidate by leveraging his strong presence on television and his debating prowess. He acknowledged that he is not one to engage in the typical political maneuvers of shaking hands and currying favor with potential voters and donors.
"I'm not one of those dudes that's great at shaking hands and kissing babies, per se, and currying favor with politicians and donors. I'm not a beggar. That's not who I am." – Stephen A. Smith
Interestingly, a recent poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates indicated that 2% of voters would support Smith in the 2028 presidential election, suggesting a modest yet notable recognition among the electorate.
While Smith has not formally declared his candidacy for the 2028 election, he remains open to the possibility of pursuing the presidency. He humorously referred to himself as the "First Takedamn fool" for even considering such a venture, acknowledging the challenges and unconventional path he envisions.