Trump confident handicaps the democratic field during a speech on energy

HACKBERRY, La. (Reuters) – President Donald Trump visited Tuesday in southern Louisiana to tout the benefits of US energy production, but could not resist criticism. bitter democrats fighting for him in the 2020 presidential race.

"I'm watching the competition. You somehow dream of such a competition, you know? "He told several hundred workers at Cameron's liquefied natural gas export terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana.

In his review of South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Congressman Beto O'Rourke and US Senators Warren and Bernie Sanders have shown that he was closely watching the debate on the race for the Democratic presidency.

After discussing the benefits of LNG exports, Trump plunged into his assessment of candidates for the Democratic presidential election, who are eager to deny him a second term and slammed his presidency in the election campaign.

He took the pronunciation of Buttigieg's last name, which the candidate described as a "focus", and noted that O'Rourke's goal of relaunching his campaign after its initial release had been shocked by voters .

"Beto falls quickly. What happened? Remember, about four weeks ago, he said, "I'm done for that." He's made for that. It was made to fall like a rock, "said Trump.

Then he turned to Biden, the Democratic leader, who now has more than 20 people.

"I do not know what happened to Biden. What happened to him? I look and say, "It does not look like the guy I knew." What happened to him? ", Asked Trump.

Trump, who in the past nicknamed Sanders "Crazy Bernie", came back to this theme on Tuesday saying, "You know, Bernie is crazy." But he added: "Bernie has a lot more energy than Biden, so you know."

Trump, with a rate of approval in the low 40% range, is not an asset for reelection. He has a strong economy on which to campaign, but his conflicting policies on issues such as immigration, his trade war with China and his struggles with Iran, North Korea and Venezuela could constitute serious obstacles.

But he expressed confidence in his chances.

"Boy, you have some beauties there. Three hundred and fifty million people and that's the best we can do. I do not think so. Even as Democrats, I could choose better than that, "he said.

Trump then went to the suburbs of Metairie, New Orleans, for a fundraising campaign. The event, attended by 225 people, raised $ 4 million for its campaign and the Republican National Committee.