Perceived persona placed the Democrats’ popularity contest politics front and center as a recent speech sent talking heads buzzing over the supposed “next Jack Kennedy.”
The 2026 midterm elections have yet to finish shaping up and many have already set to speculating on the 2028 presidential cycle. As the baggage of likely leaders on the left undoubtedly induces cringe among primary voters, it appeared a heavily produced rally featuring Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) found some fawning over his “President-maxxing.”
Appearing with former Atlanta mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms at a “United for Georgia” rally, the lawmaker who defeated incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue in a 2021 runoff election earned some virality with attacks on his GOP opposition as well as President Donald Trump.
Emphasizing a portion of Ossoff’s speech where he alleged the president was taking steps to build a legacy “because no one will honor him when he’s gone,” Victor Shi of the Harris-Walz campaign suggested, “Jon Ossoff is one of those rare politicians who is more impressive every time he speaks. He’s such an effective communicator — and talks about the corruption of Trump & his administration like none other.”
Jon Ossoff is one of those rare politicians who is more impressive every time he speaks. He’s such an effective communicator — and talks about the corruption of Trump & his administration like none other. pic.twitter.com/v0zc2zmaYd
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) May 31, 2026
Others demonstrated that the substance took a backseat to the sales pitch. For The Bulwark founder Sarah Longwell, this meant pushing the look of the senator with the caption, “President-maxxing so hard,” while another contended, “I’ve seen enough. We’ve found our next Jack Kennedy.”
President-maxxing so hard. pic.twitter.com/cxdscsg3VC
— Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) June 1, 2026
I’ve seen enough. We’ve found our next Jack Kennedy. https://t.co/hXz2kesxik
— Sgt. Waters (@ohitswaters) May 31, 2026
More of this remarkable speech tonight at 10pm @ Last Word. https://t.co/hvf1FxK0Vk
— Lawrence O’Donnell (@Lawrence) June 2, 2026
This reminds me a lot of Obama 2006. https://t.co/qAFQWobD4s
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 31, 2026
While myriad polls showed Ossoff to have an edge over either Georgia Rep. Mike Collins or former football coach Derek Dooley — set to square off in a runoff for the Republican nomination on June 16 — surveys also put the senator barely in the top 10 of potential candidates for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
With former Vice President Kamala Harris somehow leading in most polls despite already failing two previous bids for the White House, others ahead of Ossoff include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg and “Seditious Six” member Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
📊 2028 Dem Primary by Echelon (A)
🔹Harris: 23% (+1)
🔹Newsom: 17% (-4)
🔹AOC: 11% (+1)
🔹Buttigieg: 10% (-2)
🔹Kelly: 6% (+3)
🔹Shapiro: 5%
🔹Whitmer: 4%
🔹Pritzker: 4%
🔹Booker: 3%
🔹Ossoff: 1%
🔹Beshear: 2%
🔹Warnock: 1%
🔹Moore: 1%
🔹Khanna: 1%
🔹Fetterman: 1%
——… pic.twitter.com/4ODeKN6Sa5— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) May 19, 2026
Counted among the compliments offered to Ossoff were comparisons to former President Barack Obama, which likewise proved an effective avenue by which to criticize the senator.
Sharing a segment of the speech that took aim at Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, investor Bilal Zuberi wrote, “Dear @ossoff: This is nice talk, reminiscing of Obama era high level platitudes. But what exactly are your policy solutions/positions?”
Dear @ossoff: This is nice talk, reminiscing of Obama era high level platitudes. But what exactly are your policy solutions/positions. https://t.co/KzFeVvE7RU
— Bilal Zuberi (@bznotes) June 1, 2026
Known for being among the vocal against the supposed “Epstein class,” a term used by Ossoff to criticize the president’s administration, the senator was also counted among Democrats who received numerous donations from Jeffrey Epstein-tied LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
As other critics put it, “Is this your agenda? [Are] there any plans to help the people of Georgia? Or are you just going to talk about Trump? This is why democrats like JFK are never coming back. This loser offers nothing and expect[s] a vote.”
Is this your agenda? is there any plans to help the people of Georgia? Or are you just going to talk about Trump. This is why democrats like JFK are never coming back.
This loser offers nothing and expect a vote .— kr (@Am3rican101) June 1, 2026
Running for president with ZERO policies might be tough tho? Lol
— Texas Hillbilly (@TXHillbilly66) June 1, 2026
President of his HOA perhaps
— BT (@bt_jorgensen) June 2, 2026
This is all they have because their policies suck and they’re only interested in power. They have nothing substantive to run on, so they project onto President Trump what they themselves are guilty of. It’s the Democrat party that is filled with fraud and corruption…
— James Leonard 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@jimleonardbklyn) June 1, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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