https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/martin-rogers/2018/09/11/oscar-de-la-hoya-plans-launch-bid-run-u-s-president-2020/1273108002/
LAS VEGAS— Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya said on Tuesday that he plans to launch anunexpected bid for the United States presidency in 2020.
"It's real," the formersix-weight world title holder and 1992 Olympic champion said, in responseto growing rumors that he was preparing a bid for public office. De La Hoya wasspeaking at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where he is promoting Saturday's much-anticipatedmiddleweight rematch between Canelo Alvarez and GennadyGolovkin.
"That’s the beauty of ournation," De La Hoya continued. "If Arnold (Schwarzenegger) can begovernor, if (Donald) Trump can be President, then why can’t a Mexican-Americanwho won an Olympic gold medal, who’s over 35 and a U.S. citizen, run forpresidency?”
De La Hoya enjoys huge popularityamong Mexican-Americans, and captured the hearts of the nation when he won hisOlympic title in Barcelona and dedicated it to his mother Cecilia, who hadpreviously died of breast cancer. The 45-year-old said he would run as aDemocrat during the next electoral cycle and believes his boxing promotionalexperience and personal wealth would help him obtain the necessary fundingto sustain a tilt at the highest office in the land.
However, his personal life wouldbe certain to come under heavy scrutiny if his campaign for the White Housepicked up serious traction. De La Hoya has had much publicized battles withalcohol and substance addiction, including multiple stints in rehab.
He claimed to have begun thinkingabout his potential presidential hopes "many years ago" and voicedconfidence that he would be able to tap into significant support.
"As I got older, I get wiserand as I get wiser, I get smarter and as I get smarter, I start to realize the millionsand millions of people who’ve told me, ‘Oscar, why don’t you run for some kindof office? Because you can make a difference.’”
LAS VEGAS— Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya said on Tuesday that he plans to launch anunexpected bid for the United States presidency in 2020.
"It's real," the formersix-weight world title holder and 1992 Olympic champion said, in responseto growing rumors that he was preparing a bid for public office. De La Hoya wasspeaking at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where he is promoting Saturday's much-anticipatedmiddleweight rematch between Canelo Alvarez and GennadyGolovkin.
"That’s the beauty of ournation," De La Hoya continued. "If Arnold (Schwarzenegger) can begovernor, if (Donald) Trump can be President, then why can’t a Mexican-Americanwho won an Olympic gold medal, who’s over 35 and a U.S. citizen, run forpresidency?”
De La Hoya enjoys huge popularityamong Mexican-Americans, and captured the hearts of the nation when he won hisOlympic title in Barcelona and dedicated it to his mother Cecilia, who hadpreviously died of breast cancer. The 45-year-old said he would run as aDemocrat during the next electoral cycle and believes his boxing promotionalexperience and personal wealth would help him obtain the necessary fundingto sustain a tilt at the highest office in the land.
However, his personal life wouldbe certain to come under heavy scrutiny if his campaign for the White Housepicked up serious traction. De La Hoya has had much publicized battles withalcohol and substance addiction, including multiple stints in rehab.
He claimed to have begun thinkingabout his potential presidential hopes "many years ago" and voicedconfidence that he would be able to tap into significant support.
"As I got older, I get wiserand as I get wiser, I get smarter and as I get smarter, I start to realize the millionsand millions of people who’ve told me, ‘Oscar, why don’t you run for some kindof office? Because you can make a difference.’”