DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES DROPPING LIKE FLIES

We are now in the post-Super Tuesday section of the Democratic Party primary season. It’s been a bumpy ride, but it might get even uglier.

The last few moderate candidates, “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, dropped out right before Super Tuesday and immediately endorsed the centrist frontrunner, former Vice President Joe Biden. On Wednesday, after disappointing results, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also dropped out and endorsed Biden, ending his expensive run for president.

Biden was first put into the race as the establishment’s insurance policy – the safe pick that the party could rely on. But, after the first few televised debates last year, it seemed that he was the punching bag for the other candidates. He was heavily criticized for his congressional record (namely, his pro-Iraq War decision as a senator), his clearly visible mental decline, and his habit of creating word salad during the debates themselves.

It then seemed that the establishment and party officials were banking on its other candidates (Buttigieg, Klobuchar and California Sen. Kamala Harris) in case Biden were to bow out early.

Surprisingly, the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29 saw Biden winning with such a large margin the television networks called the contest, with 0% of the polling in. This led to the low-polling Buttigieg and Klobuchar rallying behind the once-again-moderate-favorite.

Super Tuesday continued Biden’s surge, where he won most of the southern states but lost in the big California primary. 

All this information is relevant because it shows the amount of conflict and infighting within the Democratic Party and the lengths that the establishment institutions will take to ensure a victory for the moderates.

It brings us back to the point in question: Will the Democrats actually unify under their nominee?

Sanders’ voter base is very passionate about his campaign and aware of the attempts from the establishment to delegitimize his victories, both in 2016 and now. His supporters are vocal about their disdain for the status quo that Biden represents – and we clearly see the similar disdain from the status quo towards Sanders’ grassroots campaign.

Now, as of Thursday, Elizabeth Warren, a former frontrunner in the race, has ended her campaign. Her endorsement choice – whether Sanders, Biden, or neither – is going to be a consequential one. 

All this conflict isn’t going to unify the party the way the surviving contenders want it to. Bernie and Biden have said many times that they are good friends and they’re only running against each other on ideas. But, on a macro level, these are two very different ideologies and groups clashing with each other. 

When we get to the Democratic convention in July and the nominee is made official, I don’t believe the party is going to be unified the way that its leaders intend for it to be, no matter who wins.