Washington (CNN) Our weekly roundup of the news, notes and chatter about the prospects for the next Democratic presidential race:

As 2020 prospects plot midterm travel schedules to position themselves for presidential runs, a new CNN poll offers a snapshot of how broadly acceptable some of the best-known names are to the overall Democratic electorate at this very early stage.

The results of the poll, conducted by SSRS , show that a top tier of candidates who all face questions about whether they'll run due to age and other factors seems to be emerging: Former Vice Presidentis the most broadly popular pick, with 84% of Democrats saying they are either very or somewhat like to support his potential nomination. Vermont Sen.comes next at 75%, followed by Massachusetts Sen.at 68%.

Then there are three younger Democratic senators who are still building national name ID: California Sen. Kamala Harris: 53%; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker: 50%; New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: 48%.

It's no surprise that those three had significant numbers say they're "not sure," given their lower profiles. CNN polling director Jennifer Agiesta breaks it down a little more in her wrap: "Sanders still has the strongest grip on young voters in the Democratic party: 60% of potential Democratic primary voters under 35 years say they are very likely to back Sanders, vs. 52% for Biden, 29% for Warren, 18% for Harris, 16% for Booker and 12% for Gillibrand.

News and notes:

Eric Holder kept the 2020 door propped open during a chat with Viceland's "Desus & Mero," telling the hosts: "What I've said is, Joe Biden and I really worked hard on that," he said, "and we didn't pull it off." HOLD' STEADY: Former Attorney Generalkept the 2020 door propped open during a chat with Viceland's "Desus & Mero," telling the hosts: "What I've said is, I'm going to decide by the beginning of next year and see if there's going to be another chapter in my public service career. We'll see." When they asked about his biggest Obama administration regret, Holder pointed to gun reform in the aftermath of Sandy Hook. "and I really worked hard on that," he said, "and we didn't pull it off."

Mitch Landrieu keeps deflecting, but he isn't giving it a flat-out no. The mayor spoke at a Bloomberg breakfast in Washington on Thursday and talked about potential for Democrats in 2020. "I don't think you guys ought to be worried about a dearth of candidates" in the next presidential race, he said at the breakfast. "I don't intend to be one of them." But, he added, " LANDRIEU TALKS 2020: New Orleans Mayorkeeps deflecting, but he isn't giving it a flat-out no. The mayor spoke at a Bloomberg breakfast in Washington on Thursday and talked about potential for Democrats in 2020. "I don't think you guys ought to be worried about a dearth of candidates" in the next presidential race, he said at the breakfast. "I don't intend to be one of them." But, he added, " things could change ."

The next day, he gave a similar answer on CNN's New Day, and went on to say he hoped Joe Biden would run in 2020. He also touted Mike Bloomberg, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Eric Garcetti and Jeff Flake as potentially good candidates to oppose Trump.

HARRIS TO BE SPECIAL GUEST AT DNC EVENT: California Sen. Kamala Harris will appear at this year's DNC Women's Leadership Forum on May 17-18 in Washington. She'll keynote a dinner on the second night. Also attending the event is another prospective 2020 candidate: Jason Kander.

Ellen DeGeneres's NBC show at 3 p.m. Thursday. She's keynoting a Michigan Democratic Party dinner on April 14, as well. Other Harris-related notes: She'll be on 's NBC show at 3 p.m. Thursday. She's keynoting a Michigan Democratic Party dinner on April 14, as well.

Bernie Sanders returns to Mississippi this week, when he'll join Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba for a town hall event on Wednesday — marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sanders returns to the state he lost by 66 points in the 2016 primary. He'll SANDERS RETURNS TO MISSISSIPPI: Sen.returns to Mississippi this week, when he'll join Jackson Mayorfor a town hall event on Wednesday — marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr.. Sanders returns to the state he lost by 66 points in the 2016 primary. He'll talk economic justice with Lumumba, the young leftist mayor who was endorsed by Sanders' political organization , Our Revolution, last year.

Jason Kander will KANDER AND THE EARLY PRIMARY STATES: Former Missouri Secretary of Statewill give the keynote address at the 2018 McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner on April 14 in Nashua. Kander's appearance at this dinner will be his second at a major New Hampshire Democratic Party event.

On Wednesday, Kander announced his endorsement of two South Carolina Democrats running in 2018: Democrats James Smith, who is running for governor, and Joe Cunningham, who is running to unseat GOP Rep. Mark Sanford in the 1st District.

Pete Buttigieg. High-profile backers of the 36-year-old mayor quoted in the story including David Axelrod and former DNC Chair Howard Dean, who endorsed Buttigieg in his 2017 DNC chair race. PROFILING MAYOR PETE: Politico's Edward-Isaac Dovere spent some time in the Midwest profiling South Bend, Indiana, Mayor. High-profile backers of the 36-year-old mayor quoted in the story includingand former DNC Chair, who endorsed Buttigieg in his 2017 DNC chair race.

On the buzz about his future prospects: "I think it's maybe a sign of the times. I think it's telling you that things are kind of wide open in a way that hasn't been true in a long time. I think it shows that there is an interest in the middle of the country," Buttigieg said. "I think it shows that there's at least curiosity, if not appetite, for what a newer generation of leaders is going to look like. And I think it reflects the fact that we're really living in a season for cities and for mayors."

Steve Bullock is Tom Miller in Des Moines on Thursday. The next day, Bullock will headline an event with the Polk County Democrats in Johnston. This will be his first trip to Iowa as governor. BULLOCK'S FIRST TRIP TO IOWA: Montana Gov.is heading to Iowa this week . He will attend a fundraiser for Iowa attorney general candidatein Des Moines on Thursday. The next day, Bullock will headline an event with the Polk County Democrats in Johnston. This will be his first trip to Iowa as governor.

From the right

John Kasich will Mark Cuban at Ohio State University on Monday. Both men are harsh critics of President Donald Trump and both have been named as prospective 2020 nominees to challenge Trump. The two will discuss "the impact of automation and innovation on the future of work" in a discussion with Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei, the co-founders of Axios. KASICH AND CUBAN TOGETHER MONDAY: Ohio Gov.will appear alongside Dallas Mavericks owner and entrepreneurat Ohio State University on Monday. Both men are harsh critics of Presidentand both have been named as prospective 2020 nominees to challenge Trump. The two will discuss "the impact of automation and innovation on the future of work" in a discussion withand, the co-founders of Axios.

A trend to watch:

Kenneth Pennington and Hector Sigala, Randy "Iron Stache" Bryce (Wisconsin), Jess King (Pennsylvania) and Laura Moser (Texas), and Illinois attorney general hopeful Renato Mariotti. DEM CAMPAIGNS UNIONIZE: A growing number of 2018 Democratic campaigns — and one notable progressive consultant shop — are seeing their staffs unionize. Last week, staffers at digital consulting firm Middle Seat, founded by former Sanders 2016 handsand made it public . Additionally, the Campaign Workers Guild lists ten campaigns to organize, including those of congressional candidates"Iron Stache"(Wisconsin),(Pennsylvania) and(Texas), and Illinois attorney general hopeful

Why do it? Sigala, a campaign vet who was supportive of his staff's choice, said: "The hours are insane, the pay is low, there's no overtime pay or anything, and you're working multiple jobs and multiple roles per person. If you get sick or something, it's like you've gotta do it, because if you don't, someone else will. And it's not because you're forced into it; it's that you really believe in the candidate you're working for — and that's the reason this hasn't happened before. They say, 'I'm doing this because I'm so passionate about it.' But it's not either/or."

Expect this to be an issue — and a selling point — next year and in 2020 as the Democratic candidates jockey for support from progressive groups.

Before you go: