She has announced that she is dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination. Her fall from popularity is still somewhat of a puzzle. At one point she seemed poised to take over the leadership of the progressive movement from Bernie Sanders as her poll numbers rose and his fell. Some analysts have suggested that her backtracking on support for Medicare For All and the support that she got from a shadowy dark money Super PAC tarnished her image of a reformer and caused some of her supporters to defect. She has said that she will not run for president in 2020. But at the moment she must be exhausted and disappointed and things can happen in the next two or three years to cause her to change her mind.
Her statement is here.
You know a year ago, people weren’t talking about a $0.02 wealth tax, universal childcare, cancelling student loan debt for 43 million Americans while reducing the racial wealth gap, or breaking up big tech. Or expanding Social Security. And now they are. And because we did the work of building broad support for all of those ideas across this country, these changes could actually be implemented by the next president.
…We also advocated for fixing our rigged system in a way that will make it work better for everyone – regardless of your race, or gender, or religion, regardless of whether you’re straight or LGBTQ. And that wasn’t an afterthought, it was built into everything we did.
…Because for every young person who is drowning in student debt, for every family struggling to pay the bills on two incomes, for every mom worried about paying for prescriptions or putting food on the table, this fight goes on. For every immigrant and African American and Muslim and Jewish person and Latinx and transwoman who sees the rise in attacks on people who look or sound or worship like them, this fight goes on. And for every person alarmed by the speed with which climate change is bearing down upon us, this fight goes on. And for every American who desperately wants to see our nation healed and some decency and honor restored to our government, this fight goes on. And sure, the fight may take a new form, but I will be in that fight, and I want you in this fight with me. We will persist.
She has not indicated whom she plans to endorse but seemed to suggest that she will at some point soon. The issues she highlighted in her statement align most closely with what Bernie Sanders has been saying all along and so an endorsement of him would be consistent with it. But recently she has been attacking Sanders so it is not clear that she will. But if she endorses Joe Biden, that will not reflect well on her since he represents very much the antithesis of what she has been fighting for.
Warren dropping out leaves just Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Tulsi Gabbard still in the race. Incidentally, the caucus results from American Samoa were just released and to my great surprise, Michael Bloomberg came first with 50% of the vote and won four delegates and Gabbard came second with 29% of the vote and won two delegates. None of the candidates won any delegates at all. Clearly the voters of American Samoa have different concerns from those in the mainland.
Wish she did it earlier, but better late than never.
When you wrote
I thought that was a typo and you (and she) meant 2024. But if you follow the link she said 2020, so there’s still a chance she’ll throw in her hat next time round. (Probably wouldn’t have been politic to presume she’d be able to run in 4 years anyways because that assumes the Democrat won’t win this time.) I still have my fingers crossed that she could be selected as the running mate for Biden if he wins the nom. I can’t think of anyone else (outside of Bernie) among the plausible choices who would have a better chance of keeping the progressive left enthused for and invested in the election. That would mean that it would also be politic for her to not endorse anyone, so if she does that will be the sign I think that she’s not interested in being VP.
Warren was my top choice, and I’m disappointed that she did so poorly and had to drop out. Still, when you only come in 3rd in your own state, it’s time to give up. Now, I’d prefer Sanders, but I’d rate Biden as having the better chance.
Steve Cameron @ 2 wrote:
No, it assumes Biden or Sanders most likely won’t (or won’t be able to) run for a second term due to age (81 and 82 respectively at the start of a second term) and/or health. A lot of people are wondering if either will be able to complete a first term. Biden is already nearly as incoherent as Twittler, and I hate to imagine what he’ll be like in just a year or two, so I can’t understand why people are voting for him, regardless of his stated policies.
I’m sorry to see Sen. Warren drop out. Liz would have made a good president. I think she can pursue her progressive agenda better from the Senate, and I hope she stays there. I think Kamala Harris or Susan Rice would be great choices for V.P.
re Steve Cameron @2:
Stacey Abrams.
Stacey Abrams
Biden could run with her as VP then admit he’s turning to mush and resign. I can dream!