Stephen A. Smith has hinted more clearly than ever that he’s open to the idea of running for president, taking an early jab at a possible competitor in the 2028 Democratic primary.

The sports broadcaster said he will ‘leave the door open’ to a presidential bid during a Friday appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.

‘I can’t imagine myself doing it, but I haven’t ruled it out because I’m disgusted with what I’m seeing on the left,’ he said.

Smith also said there’s nobody on the Democratic side he thinks is capable of taking the mantle.

“When I consider the national voices for the Democratic party, they seem to be absent. In my view, even a construction worker could win the Democratic nomination right now,” Smith exclaimed to a stunned audience.

‘They are in for an a** kicking if they don’t get their act together. The party is in disarray. No leadership.’

Maher, a liberal who’s a frequent critic of Democrats, agreed with Smith’s assessment of the party and hyped up the idea of him running. 

“The party needs someone who has nothing to lose, someone who says, ‘If you like what I say, great. If not, I’ll go back to ESPN,'” Maher commented.

During the show, Smith also criticized Pete Buttigieg, who has been consistently polling well among likely Democratic primary voters.

However, as Maher pointed out, there is one serious shortcoming the former transportation secretary has yet to address.

Maher cited an Emerson College poll from late June where Buttigieg was leading with 16 percent overall but received zero percent backing from black voters.

‘You don’t usually see zero anywhere. Zero’s low,’ Maher said. ‘What is that all about?’

Smith responded with a devastating, ‘He doesn’t move us,’ before pausing dramatically for effect.

‘I respect the man. I’ve interviewed him before, very nice man, highly intelligent. But you gotta be able to move us, bro. He doesn’t move us. You can speculate as to why that is, I’m not going there. He doesn’t move us,’ he added.

Black voters are an especially important constituency in Democratic primaries and often decide the eventual outcome.

Black people overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, according to exit polls. Both went on to become the nominee for president.

Bernie Sanders, the main rival for Clinton and Biden in those elections, had anemic support with that demographic by comparison.

In the poll that showed Buttigieg on top, former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom were nipping at his heels at 13 percent and 12 percent, respectively. 

The 2028 primary is shaping up to be one with many candidates, since even former President Barack Obama has publicly griped that there is no defined leader of the party.

With Kamala Harris opting not to run for governor in California, many have seen that as a decision to free her up for another shot at the White House. 

Harris leads most polls she is included in, with Buttigieg and Newsom consistently coming in second or third place behind her.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is another contender that’s being discussed among pundits, however, there is a chance she’ll try to unseat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who’s up for re-election in 2028.

A series of polls have come out showing she’d beat the New York senator by double digits.

Although it’s early in the process, Newsom, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Buttigieg and AOC have all visited early primary states, which is typically a signal that they are at least strongly considering a run.

Other players to watch include Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.