Amy Poehler names the 2 Democrats Leslie Knope might support in 2020

Two 2020 Democrats may have just scored — literally — the most crucial endorsement of the race: they've got the backing of Parks and Recreation's Leslie Knope.

This, at least, is according to Amy Poehler, who on Thursday speculated about which Democrats running for president might receive the support of her beloved sitcom character. The first person to come to mind was Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who Poehler called a "Midwest candidate."

Poehler also agreed with the interviewer that Knope might support South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, whose "underdog status" Poehler said her character would like, although neither of them could actually remember his name; Poehler seemed to think it was "Paul." Buttigieg had the best response, tweeting, "Wait till she realizes she's talking about the Indiana Parks and Recreation Association’s 2018 Elected Official of the Year..."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Weirdly, a name that didn't come up at all was former Vice President Joe Biden, even though Leslie Knope famously had an almost unhealthy obsession with him on the show. Biden even had a cameo in a scene where Leslie meets him and nearly passes out due to excitement. Maybe Poehler didn't count him since he's not officially in the race yet — or perhaps Leslie has discovered some horrifying secret about Biden's waffle opinions. Brendan Morrow