Commentary: Jay Inslee is out of the 2020 race. But his presence remains.

Source: Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, September 5, 2019

Jay Inslee had a great night during CNN’s climate forum. Even though he wasn’t there.

During the network’s seven whole hours of discussion of climate change Wednesday evening, at least four Democratic candidates for president glowingly name-checked the Washington governor, who last month dropped out of the race.

Inslee had been polling so low before stopping his campaign that he stood little chance of qualifying for the forum. But the ideas the self-branded climate candidate brought to the race, as well as the enthusiasm with which he addressed the issue, have been adopted by a number of his former 2020 rivals.

Julián Castro, the former housing and urban development secretary, heaped praise onto the two-term governor, who is now seeking reelection in Washington. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke warmly of Inslee when mentioning one of his suggestions for regular people to reduce emissions — washing clothes in cold water.

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