The Democratic Presidential candidate field continues to shrink. The latest news: Sen. Amy Klobuchar is suspending her campaign and will endorse Vice President Joe Biden. The Washington Post:
“Amy Klobuchar, the senator from Minnesota who cast herself as a Midwestern pragmatist who could appeal to voters across the political spectrum, has ended her presidential bid, campaign officials said.
“The Klobuchar campaign confirms the senator is flying to Dallas to join [former] vice president Biden at his rally tonight where she will suspend her campaign and endorse the vice president,” her spokeswoman Carlie Waibel said.
Klobuchar’s exit came after she finished in sixth place in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, winning only 3.1 percent of the vote and no delegates. Her departure came less than a day after former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg ended his campaign.
The senator had briefly surged in some polls following a strong performance at the Feb. 7 Democratic debate in Manchester, N.H. Her campaign had dubbed the boost “Klomentum” and hoped it would catapult her into the top tier of candidates through the rest of the early-nominating states.”
“She joins former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer in dropping out just ahead of Super Tuesday. More than 1,500 delegates will be up for grabs as Democrats across 14 states and one overseas territory head to the polls.”
Joe Biden is one of the most honest, decent, practical, & experienced individuals with whom I have ever worked. If nominated & elected, he is capable of unifying our country & restoring America’s standing around the world. https://t.co/JUtvAfPSLy
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) March 2, 2020
BREAKING: With exiting Klobuchar donating her 7 delegates to Biden tonight, Biden will edge out Sanders in delegate count to take the lead for the first time in the primary race
— Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) March 2, 2020
Lumping Biden, Buttigieg, and Klobuchar together as “moderates” or “centrists” is lazy reporting. Each of the campaign has the support of scores of progressives, and what distinguishes them is they can reach moderates too and not alienate them.
— Ben LaBolt (@BenLaBolt) March 2, 2020
Bernie responds to the Klobuchar news by saying “the establishment” is getting nervous because “the working class” is coalescing behind him.
Who does he think just voted against him by 30 points in South Carolina.
I guess there are no working class people in SC.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) March 2, 2020
Amy I’m proud of you friend. @amyklobuchar
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) March 2, 2020
By dropping out and endorsing Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar are guaranteeing Biden will cross the 15% viability threshold.
He was at 14% in the latest polls, the new distribution should easily push him over 15%.
— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) March 2, 2020
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.