U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, smiles as he speaks with guests prior to an economic roundtable discussion at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, N.H., Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. Sen. Brown is weighing a run for in 2020 presidential race. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Republished February 08, 2019 - 7:04 PM
Original Publication Date February 08, 2019 - 6:06 PM
HAMPTON, N.H. - Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is in New Hampshire for the weekend as he explores a potential 2020 presidential bid while trying to set himself apart with his broad appeal to the working class.
The Ohio senator spoke Friday at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton with five other panelists and an audience of about 50 people.
Brown expressed his strong support for paid family medical leave, higher wages, better benefits, better workplace rules and what he called a "pro-family" workplace.
"Since my election to the third term in the Senate, I have continually been noticing Democrats seem to think we either chose to talk to the progressive base or you talk to working families and listen to issues that matter to them. I don't think it's a choice," he said. "I won in states like Ohio because of who I am and what I fight for every day, which is dignity of work."
The event was organized by an activist group known as Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy.
This is Brown's first visit since 2014. He has four other stops in the state Saturday.
Brown has said he and his wife, journalist Connie Schultz, are still deciding whether he should run for president. He said he called former President Barack Obama about a month ago to talk about his potential run for the presidency but stopped short of saying how Obama responded.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019