Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Wednesday, Rep. Eric Swalwell hinted his strategy for winning the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2020 might rely on the enthusiasm of young voters.

However, an informal straw poll this week released by the progressive group, Move On, issued the East Bay representative some sobering early news.

In a lengthy group of 33 potential Democratic candidates for president, Swalwell placed seventeenth with 0.54 percent of the poll. The number placed him behind former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and above Texas Rep. Julían Castro. Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke topped the poll.

Swalwell’s weak showing is reminiscent of a January 2017 poll that followed speculation that U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein might opt to retire instead of seek re-election in 2018.  That poll gave Swalwell 5 percent of the vote.

Swalwell had earlier floated the possibility of running for the seat later won by Kamala Harris after Barbara Boxer’s retirement from the U.S. Senate in 2016.

On MSNBC, Swalwell added fuel to speculation that he will indeed run for president. “I actually do see a path, I am considering it,” he said, noting he will visit Iowa and New Hampshire in the next week.

“I do believe that the country, by sending about 27 new members of Congress who are in their 40s and under, that they embraced in this last midterm election new leadership, new ideas and much importantly, a new confidence,” said Swalwell.

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