Warren ends White House bid, leading Biden, Sanders to fight for Democratic nod

By Joseph Ax and Amanda Becker

 

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren talks to reporters outside her house about the end of her 2020 campaign for U.S. president after informing her staff that she is withdrawing from the U.S. presidential race in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

 

(Reuters) - Elizabeth Warren ended her presidential campaign on Thursday, making the race for the Democratic nomination a two-man battle between former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S Senator Bernie Sanders.

 

Warren, a liberal senator who won plaudits for her command of policy details, had finished well behind the two front-runners on Tuesday in 14 states, including her home state of Massachusetts, leaving her path to the nomination virtually nonexistent.

 

Her exit ensures that what was once hailed as the most diverse field of candidates in U.S. history has narrowed to a choice between two white, septuagenarian men.

 

Warren, who still commands a loyal base of supporters, did not immediately endorse either of her rivals, saying she would decide at a later time whether to do so. She has spoken with both front-runners since Tuesday's votes.

 

Biden, a 77-year-old moderate, and Sanders, a 78-year-old liberal from Vermont, have emerged as the standard-bearers for the two major wings of the Democratic Party.

 

Outside her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday, Warren spoke bluntly about her failure to find a middle ground between the party's duelling factions.

 

"I was told when I first got into this, there are two lanes," she said. "I thought it was possible that wasn't the case, and there was more room to run a different kind of campaign. Apparently that wasn't the case."

 

'VICIOUS CYCLE' ON ELECTABILITY

The vague notion of "electability," a frequent buzzword on the campaign trail as Democrats prioritised defeating Republican President Donald Trump over all other concerns, seemed especially damaging for Warren and other non-white male candidates.

 

"The general narrative was that the women might be too risky, and I think there were people who heard that enough that it started showing up in polling ... and becomes a vicious cycle that was hard to break out of," said Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications at EMILY's List, which works to elect women supporting abortion rights and had endorsed Warren.

 

Asked on Thursday about the role that gender played in the campaign, Warren said it was a tricky issue for female candidates to address.

 

"That is the trap question for every woman," she said. "If you say, 'Yeah, there was sexism in this race,' everyone says, 'Whiner!' If you say, 'No, there was no sexism,' about a bazillion women say, 'What planet do you live on?'"

 

Warren also said one of the hardest parts of leaving the campaign was knowing that millions of little girls would have to wait at least four more years before seeing a woman in the White House.

 

At her campaign events, Warren was fond of making "pinky promises" with young girls in her trademark selfie lines, telling them she was running for president because "that's what girls do."

 

U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii remains in the race, but has repeatedly failed to win even 1% of the vote in primaries.

 

In Washington, Democratic U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she believes the country is ready for a woman president but said misogyny still plays a role.

 

"Every time I get introduced as the most powerful woman or whatever, I almost cry because I think - I wish that were not true," she said.

 

Elizabeth Warren ended her presidential campaign on Thursday, bowing to the reality that the race for the Democratic nomination has become a two-way battle between former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S Senator Bernie Sanders. This report produced by Jonah Green.

 

BIDEN HITS SANDERS AS MORE ELECTIONS LOOM

Meanwhile, Biden and Sanders continued to step up attacks on each other following Biden's unexpectedly strong performance on Tuesday.

 

The back-and-forth between the two contenders signalled a bruising battle to come as the race turns next to six states stretching from Mississippi to Washington state, which hold nominating contests on March 10.

 

Sanders blamed the "establishment" and corporate interests for his losses in 10 of the 14 states that voted on Tuesday, a charge Biden called "ridiculous."

 

"You got beaten by overwhelming support I have from the African-American community, Bernie," Biden told NBC's "Today" show on Thursday. "You got beaten because of suburban women, Bernie. You got beaten because of the middle-class, hardworking folks out there, Bernie."

 

(Reporting by Amanda Becker in Washington and Joseph Ax in New York, additional reporting by Ginger Gibson in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-06

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and she rides off into the sunset...

A fine run Elizabeth imo a respectable lady full of energy and ideas + high ideals kudos madam 

2 hours ago, Kelsall said:

and she rides off into the sunset...

Her very voice grates on me. Like nails on a chalk board. As loathesome a human being as Mayor Pete.

2 hours ago, Kelsall said:

and she rides off into the sunset...

She’ll return to her seat in the Senate.

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

She’ll return to her seat in the Senate.

To help rout trump come November!

1 hour ago, Tug said:

A fine run Elizabeth imo a respectable lady full of energy and ideas + high ideals kudos madam 

Way more than that.

 

She’s from the kind of background shared by millions of Americans, and has built her life by hard work and tenacity, helped only by her innate intelligence.

 

There’s no silver spoon in her mouth and no trust fund, she’s lived through her parents problems with debt, she has a personal experience of the poverty millions of Americans face.

 

Soldier/building building maintenance man’ daughter to US senator.

 

She’s demonstrated the American Dream.

 

I’m sure we’ll see much more of her in the future. I very much hope so.

21 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Her very voice grates on me. Like nails on a chalk board. As loathesome a human being as Mayor Pete.

What you find worthy of your adulation v worthy of your loathing is a very odd set.

And what choices that now leaves for president: a geriatric socialist, creepy Joe or the Donald again. Mm-mm.

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

She’s from the kind of background shared by millions of Americans, and has built her life by hard work and tenacity, helped only by her innate intelligence.

That is one argument. The other is that she pretended to be an ethnic minority to capitalize on the "affirmative action" movement and further her career. That this fraud helped her career immeasurably sets alarm bells ringing for me. I would like to see a full investigation and if it is found that she did unfairly use her pretend ethnic minority status to further her career then she must pay back all salaries, and serve prison time. 

 She was the most insincere out of all the dem candidates(remember that toe curling "i'm gonna go get me a beer" video??), and I'm glad she has dropped out. Now it's time to face lady justice.

7 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

That is one argument. The other is that she pretended to be an ethnic minority to capitalize on the "affirmative action" movement and further her career. That this fraud helped her career immeasurably sets alarm bells ringing for me. I would like to see a full investigation and if it is found that she did unfairly use her pretend ethnic minority status to further her career then she must pay back all salaries, and serve prison time. 

 She was the most insincere out of all the dem candidates(remember that toe curling "i'm gonna go get me a beer" video??), and I'm glad she has dropped out. Now it's time to face lady justice.

She wasn't my cup'o tea but I'd place her in the top 50% of the political class, but I'm afraid that's not saying much. I'd place her higher if she came up with her own vision and defended it, whether I agreed with her or not.  Anybody tell you you're kinda punitive? These are politicians, keep your expectations low.

Mrs. Warren's retreat from the race hopefully will give her more time to explore her native american origin.

DNC have changed the rules again to keep Tulsi off the debate stage.

Sure, one could easily argue that she should not be there with her 1% but she did have one delegate, which was the proviso for the debate.

 

6 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

DNC have changed the rules again to keep Tulsi off the debate stage.

Sure, one could easily argue that she should not be there with her 1% but she did have one delegate, which was the proviso for the debate.

 

I've got nothing against her and I endorse her policy to end the forever wars, but you could argue that the DNC are the only ones keeping her name in the news.

Biden should pick Warren as his running mate.  She proved to be the best vote-getter among the Dem women candidates and having a woman as the VP candidate might help with the suburban women's vote as well as keep the Dem left from staying home.  She would be a better pick than Stacy Abrams, since Biden already has the black vote locked up.  Warren is far and away the best person to become president, which is a real prospect for the next VP.  There are rumors that Trump will dump Pence for Nicki Haley, since he doesn't need Pence for the evangelical vote and Haley could help with the women's vote.

 

 

22 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

DNC have changed the rules again to keep Tulsi off the debate stage.

Sure, one could easily argue that she should not be there with her 1% but she did have one delegate, which was the proviso for the debate.

 

Do you think she deserves to be in it. Can add anything. Is a snowmans chance in hell. Or will it just waste time.

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

26 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

DNC have changed the rules again to keep Tulsi off the debate stage.

Sure, one could easily argue that she should not be there with her 1% but she did have one delegate, which was the proviso for the debate.

 

Do you think she deserves to be in it. Can add anything. Is a snowmans chance in hell. Or will it just waste time.

The only people who'd want Tulsi Gabbard on the debate stage are Trump and his minions, and only so she can muddy the waters.  She has zero chance of being the Dem nominee, and as such, has no business on that debate stage. 

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Way more than that.

 

She’s from the kind of background shared by millions of Americans, and has built her life by hard work and tenacity, helped only by her innate intelligence.

 

There’s no silver spoon in her mouth and no trust fund, she’s lived through her parents problems with debt, she has a personal experience of the poverty millions of Americans face.

 

Soldier/building building maintenance man’ daughter to US senator.

 

She’s demonstrated the American Dream.

 

I’m sure we’ll see much more of her in the future. I very much hope so.

 

 

"background shared by millions of Americans"!!!!!!!

 

You mean there are millions of Cherokees????  Do they all have a vote?

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

DNC have changed the rules again to keep Tulsi off the debate stage.

Sure, one could easily argue that she should not be there with her 1% but she did have one delegate, which was the proviso for the debate.

 

Tulsi signed up to the rules, now for some reason you want them changing to suit her after she fails to meet the rules.

1 minute ago, blazes said:

 

 

"background shared by millions of Americans"!!!!!!!

 

You mean there are millions of Cherokees????  Do they all have a vote?

I outlined in what respects she shares a background with millions of Americans.

 

You skipped that bit to get your trolling in.

Good riddance... now its down to (1) a Communist, (2) a guy who is going to forget what his own name is any minute now, (3) and a fairly successful President by any measure.

4 minutes ago, WalkingOrders said:

Good riddance... now its down to (1) a Communist, (2) a guy who is going to forget what his own name is any minute now, (3) and a fairly successful President by any measure.

It should be obvious,

however nobody can claim to know for sure how the U.S.A. electorate will react in closing.

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

The only people who'd want Tulsi Gabbard on the debate stage are Trump and his minions, and only so she can muddy the waters.  She has zero chance of being the Dem nominee, and as such, has no business on that debate stage. 

Exactly. Only. 45 fans support her for obvious trollish reasons. A similar dynamic as the blatant 45 and Putin attempt to promote the false narrative that the democratic nomination is being stolen from Bernie. The intent is to persuade Bernie supporters to stay home in November. Bernie isn't winning because he failed to get enough votes. He sold a bill of goods that young people would turn out in droves for him. Twitter and voting are not the same. The young people as usual are very poor at turning out. 

 

That said it isn't over. Bernie can still win the nomination if he manages to actually turn out needed votes. 

12 minutes ago, WalkingOrders said:

Good riddance... now its down to (1) a Communist, (2) a guy who is going to forget what his own name is any minute now, (3) and a fairly successful President by any measure.

Agree....except for one minor change...

 

"....now its down to (1) a Communist, (2) a guy who is going to forget what his own name is any minute now, (3) and a fairly successful Vice President by any measure." 

A post using a trolling meme has been removed. 

Biden is going to derail. Perhaps in the very next debate, where it will be impossible for him to hide. His only hope is if Sanders decides to hold back, which he's shown an irritating habit for doing so. But after Biden gives another disastrous performance that means this nomination will be decided at the convention. There, Warren is a perfect compromise candidate. Plus she would annihilate Trump in a debate. Just hope the DNC is not planning on sneaking Clinton back in again.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Biden, a 77-year-old moderate, and Sanders, a 78-year-old liberal from Vermont, have emerged as the standard-bearers for the two major wings of the Democratic Party.

 

One has a heart condition the other a brain condition....just about sums up the pathetic

Dem offering this year.

7 hours ago, Kelsall said:

and she rides off into the sunset...

 

to her ancestral hunting grounds ????

22 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

One has a heart condition the other a brain condition....just about sums up the pathetic

Dem offering this year.

 

Yep. Two veteran politicians in their late 70's.

 

Are they really the best America can come up with to challenge another in his 70's?

 

 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Exactly. Only. 45 fans support her for obvious trollish reasons. A similar dynamic as the blatant 45 and Putin attempt to promote the false narrative that the democratic nomination is being stolen from Bernie. The intent is to persuade Bernie supporters to stay home in November. Bernie isn't winning because he failed to get enough votes. He sold a bill of goods that young people would turn out in droves for him. Twitter and voting are not the same. The young people as usual are very poor at turning out. 

 

That said it isn't over. Bernie can still win the nomination if he manages to actually turn out needed votes. 

 

Any proof about your Putin accusations?

 

Not any left wing liberal journalist making up stories but actual credible proof that can be cited?