How Michael Bennet imagines his 2020 rivals will meet their demise

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) isn't too concerned about not making the September Democratic debates.

And after failing to secure enough donors and high enough polling results, Bennet says he doesn't think he'll be on the stage in October. But he's not worried, because he's speculating the current party superstars will eventually flop, he tells The Atlantic in a profile published Thursday.

Bennet got into the 2020 race late and, like everyone else who did save for former Vice President Joe Biden, has failed to gain much momentum. But he's still campaigning throughout Iowa and running TV and online ads, telling The Atlantic "when I think I can't win, I won't be in the race." Until then, Bennet sees a strong chance for success: Two-thirds of voters who chose one of four frontrunners said they might change their mind, a Bennet campaign memo reads.

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Bennet also forsees an untimely end for those top-billed Democrats. Biden's campaign, Bennet tells The Atlantic, will simply collapse. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) won't be able to gain supporters who can't stomach his brand of socialism. And people will shy away from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) once they envision her pitted against Trump, he predicts.

And for another reason Biden will lose his momentum? "I think that he has well-earned and well-deserved name recognition. I don't think it's deeper than that," Bennet said. Read more of his 2020 auspices at The Atlantic.