Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren officially called it quits just days after pledging to take her campaign to the Democratic Party convention. Shockingly, her announcement came without an official endorsement for a fellow progressive.
Warren’s decision follows a number of drop outs as well as a disappointing Super Tuesday performance. The multi-state primary voting contest included an alarming third-place showing in the senator’s own state, where she was out done by both former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
The most shocking part of Warren’s announcement was her refusal to get behind any remaining Democratic candidate. Her campaign has signaled that the senator has even considered not making an official endorsement at all. During a statement to reporters that same day, she once again declined to support any other candidate at the time.
Sanders supporters have long called for the Massachusetts senator to drop out, allowing voters and delegates to consolidate support. The lack of an immediate endorsement, however, raises some interesting questions.
This could mean a couple of things. First, Warren could indeed be shopping around for a better deal from both remaining major candidates. Biden, who is casting himself as a moderate, could theoretically balance the ticket by offering Warren the coveted VP slot. A progressive alliance with Sanders could also be on the table. After all, both candidates share major agenda items, including Medicare for All as well as the aggressive Green New Deal.
Either way, there’s no question that Warren’s silence is frustrating both the Biden and Sanders camps.
Warren has a mixed legacy within the Democratic Party. Rising to prominence with her U.S. Senate race in 2012, she emerged as a progressive star and media favorite. She was speculated to run for president in 2016, when she still enjoyed substantial favorability with younger, progressive Americans. Since that time, however, the senator’s popularity has severely diminished.
The end of Warren’s campaign follows a number of drop outs — all within a single week. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg suspended his campaign the day after Super Tuesday, where he failed to win a single contest. Both South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar bowed out before Super Tuesday. All three pledged their support to Joe Biden.
Sanders supporters are sure to be embittered by Warren’s lack of solidarity. One thing remains clear: the Democratic Party is set for a brutal close to its primary process. Sanders supporters believe they are once again being ignored and overruled by DNC party elites, and the Biden camp is desperate to prevent an open socialist from being at the top of the ticket in November.
The chance of a Democratic Party victory over President Donald Trump remains the same.
