MSNBC host Chris Matthews declared Monday that he's "not happy with the field" of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.

Matthews, a former speechwriter for President Carter, said he did not think Democrats had a candidate who could defeat President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE.

"What are my thoughts? I’m not happy. I’m not happy with this field. I think they have to find a candidate for president that can beat Trump," Matthews said during a panel discussion Monday on "Morning Joe."

The telecast from Des Moines, Iowa, took place on the morning of the state's caucuses. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has emerged as the favorite to win the caucuses.

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But Matthews was pessimistic on Sanders's chances in the general election.

"Bernie Sanders is not going to be president of the United States," he said.

Mathews then compared the excitement around the Sanders campaign to that of 1972 Democratic nominee George McGovern, who lost in a landslide to President Nixon by a 520-17 margin in the Electoral College while only winning 35 percent of the popular vote.

Matthews, 74, did predict a win for Sanders in Iowa.



"I think he's gonna win big tonight, real big," said Matthews.