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Democratic presidential candidate Cenk Uygur raises over $250K since campaign launch, but Internet says he is 'not eligible'

Cenk Uygur's run for the office has been questioned since he announced his bid in October due to his uncertain status as a 'natural born citizen'

WASHINGTON, DC: In a bid that has raised eyebrows and questions alike, Democratic presidential hopeful Cenk Uygur has defied expectations by amassing over $250,000 in donations since throwing his hat into the primary race against President Joe Biden.

However, while Uygur's campaign celebrates this feat, doubts linger over his eligibility, rooted in his naturalized citizenship status, which could bar him from the presidency, as per The Hill.

Cenk Uygur is likely ineligible to hold office under Article II of the Constitution

Democratic presidential hopeful Uygur has raised over $250,000 from more than 6,800 donors since announcing his longshot primary challenge to President Joe Biden in early October, as his campaign told The Hill.

The haul is substantial for his fledgling bid, though it pales in comparison to the tens of millions raised by primary challengers in past races who went on to pose legitimate threats.

Still, the progressive media personality and founder of the popular online news program 'The Young Turks' said he was "thrilled" with the showing.

Uygur remarked, "Pretty thrilled with my team, especially under the tight deadline circumstances that we have."

Despite the respectable fundraising figure, he faces a significant obstacle from the outset - as a naturalized American citizen who immigrated from Turkey in 1978, he is likely ineligible to hold the presidency under Article II of the Constitution.

While maintaining he should qualify as a "natural born citizen," Uygur said he plans to adjudicate the issue through numerous state lawsuits.

"The courts are going to resolve that one way or another, so none of the voters have to worry about it," asserted the presidential hopeful, adding, "Even if I’m not in a certain state, the courts will handle it. And if they say that I’m eligible, which I think they will, then we’ll be on in all the states."

So far, Uygur has gained ballot access solely in Arkansas. His application was rejected in Nevada after he crossed out the words "natural born" on the filing paperwork - a likely preview of the legal fights ahead.

Cenk Uygur is promising sweeping reforms on issues like health care, wages, and money in politics

Despite the eligibility questions, Uygur is pressing forward with an intense focus on early primary states, particularly Vermont and Iowa, as he looks to build grassroots momentum behind his progressive platform.

"I think I’ve got a very compelling message," emphasized the Turkish-American politician, adding, "If we get our message out to the citizens, we’re gonna win those things. Our message is incredibly popular."

Uygur is running as an outsider populist, railing against the corporate establishment and promising sweeping reforms on issues like health care, wages, and money in politics.

With Biden’s approval sinking below 40% in recent months, including dangerously low numbers in key swing state polls, Uygur believes the POTUS is doomed to lose to Donald Trump should he become the 2024 nominee.

Uygur stated, "He’s gonna lose. I’ve been saying this for about four months or so before I got into the race, and now pretty much everybody’s caught on...There’s not a single political analyst that could look at those numbers and say that he has a decent chance of winning."

His campaign is led by veteran progressive activist Kara Eastman, who narrowly lost a Nebraska House bid in 2020 after notching an upset Democratic primary win.

While Uygur and Eastman aim to spark a left-wing grassroots uprising, the Biden campaign had raised nearly $25 million last quarter between its committee, joint fundraising groups, and the DNC - evidence the incumbent isn’t going down without a fight.

Internet remains skeptical of Cenk Uygur's presidential campaign bid

Despite significant fundraising and ambitious talk, Uygur remains a very long shot against President Biden, who has the backing of the entire mainstream Democratic Party apparatus.

With Uygur’s eligibility itself in question, and progressive primary challengers to establishment favorites rarely gaining traction historically, the internet commentariat seems unconvinced his bid will truly take flight on the national stage.

One said, "And he isn't even eligible to be president lol," while another added, "Why does the media keep acting like this guy can even be president?"

"He's not eligible. Stop wasting your money," claimed a person, with someone else stating, "He literally cannot legally be president."

"By any measure that’s a failure to launch," concluded an unimpressed netizen.