Howard Schultz’ challenge to Democrats: Nominate a centrist for president and I’ll abandon my independent campaign

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said Thursday that he would be willing to abandon his presidential ambitions midstream if Democrats nominate a centrist who makes it too difficult for him to win as an independent candidate.

Schultz, who made the comments while visiting The Washington Post, has premised his exploration of a presidential campaign on the assumption that Democrats are likely to nominate a candidate that embraces what he calls “far-left” ideas that will turn off enough moderate voters to open space for an independent candidate.