Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg greets supporters as he arrives at a town hall campaign event at the Denver Airport Convention Center February 22, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. Nevada held its presidential caucus earlier today. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
'Loyal Soldier'? Ahead of Super Tuesday, Pete Buttigieg to End Presidential Bid
As one political observer noted: "He can get a cabinet post in a Biden WH, but not a Sanders WH."
While never embraced by progressives--many of whom considered him a "corporate tool" who exhibited some of the worst tendencies of the Democratic Party's corporate-friendly wing--reports Sunday evening are that former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is officially ending his 2020 presidential campaign.
Multiple news outlets reported the news based on word from top campaign aides and Buttigieg is expected to announce his decision publicly at an event in his home state on Sunday night.
Buttigieg made the case up through Sunday morning that he was the candidate uniquely capable of beating Democratic frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders as the primary continued, but it appears Buttigieg looked at his performance in South Carolina--in which he secured not a single delegate after receiving just over 8% of the vote--and decided that his best way to serve the Democratic Party's establishment wing ahead of Super Tuesday was by dropping out.
As progressive journalist Branko Marcetic responded to the news, "The most lasting legacy of Buttigieg's run was in existing only to hobble Biden's campaign right out the gate. Dropping out is him being the loyal soldier. The right career move, but the damage may already have been done."
While Sanders won the popular vote in the first primary contest of the year in Iowa, Buttigieg left the state claiming victory before the initial results were even released and ultimately nabbed two more pledged delegates--despite dubiously chaotic reporting and contested counts in some precincts--due to the state's arcane system.
Buttigieg leaving the race left many wondering where the pledged delegates he has amassed so far will now go.
Maybe he will split them between between Biden and Sanders? Both candidates thanked Buttigieg for what he brought the primary and wished him well going forward:
But the much larger concern for some progressives is what Buttigieg's departure means for the race moving forward. As Nathan J. Robinson of Current Affairs tweeted:
And as Nate Silver of Five Thirty Eight points out:
"Buttigieg dropping out may actually increase the likelihood of a contested convention," added Silver. "He was polling at <15% almost everywhere on Super Tuesday, meaning he was tracking to get very few delegates, but his votes will help other candidates to get over 15% and get delegates."
Update: This post was updated from its original to include additional comment and reaction, including that from Sanders and Biden.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
While never embraced by progressives--many of whom considered him a "corporate tool" who exhibited some of the worst tendencies of the Democratic Party's corporate-friendly wing--reports Sunday evening are that former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is officially ending his 2020 presidential campaign.
Multiple news outlets reported the news based on word from top campaign aides and Buttigieg is expected to announce his decision publicly at an event in his home state on Sunday night.
Buttigieg made the case up through Sunday morning that he was the candidate uniquely capable of beating Democratic frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders as the primary continued, but it appears Buttigieg looked at his performance in South Carolina--in which he secured not a single delegate after receiving just over 8% of the vote--and decided that his best way to serve the Democratic Party's establishment wing ahead of Super Tuesday was by dropping out.
As progressive journalist Branko Marcetic responded to the news, "The most lasting legacy of Buttigieg's run was in existing only to hobble Biden's campaign right out the gate. Dropping out is him being the loyal soldier. The right career move, but the damage may already have been done."
While Sanders won the popular vote in the first primary contest of the year in Iowa, Buttigieg left the state claiming victory before the initial results were even released and ultimately nabbed two more pledged delegates--despite dubiously chaotic reporting and contested counts in some precincts--due to the state's arcane system.
Buttigieg leaving the race left many wondering where the pledged delegates he has amassed so far will now go.
Maybe he will split them between between Biden and Sanders? Both candidates thanked Buttigieg for what he brought the primary and wished him well going forward:
But the much larger concern for some progressives is what Buttigieg's departure means for the race moving forward. As Nathan J. Robinson of Current Affairs tweeted:
And as Nate Silver of Five Thirty Eight points out:
"Buttigieg dropping out may actually increase the likelihood of a contested convention," added Silver. "He was polling at <15% almost everywhere on Super Tuesday, meaning he was tracking to get very few delegates, but his votes will help other candidates to get over 15% and get delegates."
Update: This post was updated from its original to include additional comment and reaction, including that from Sanders and Biden.
While never embraced by progressives--many of whom considered him a "corporate tool" who exhibited some of the worst tendencies of the Democratic Party's corporate-friendly wing--reports Sunday evening are that former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is officially ending his 2020 presidential campaign.
Multiple news outlets reported the news based on word from top campaign aides and Buttigieg is expected to announce his decision publicly at an event in his home state on Sunday night.
Buttigieg made the case up through Sunday morning that he was the candidate uniquely capable of beating Democratic frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders as the primary continued, but it appears Buttigieg looked at his performance in South Carolina--in which he secured not a single delegate after receiving just over 8% of the vote--and decided that his best way to serve the Democratic Party's establishment wing ahead of Super Tuesday was by dropping out.
As progressive journalist Branko Marcetic responded to the news, "The most lasting legacy of Buttigieg's run was in existing only to hobble Biden's campaign right out the gate. Dropping out is him being the loyal soldier. The right career move, but the damage may already have been done."
While Sanders won the popular vote in the first primary contest of the year in Iowa, Buttigieg left the state claiming victory before the initial results were even released and ultimately nabbed two more pledged delegates--despite dubiously chaotic reporting and contested counts in some precincts--due to the state's arcane system.
Buttigieg leaving the race left many wondering where the pledged delegates he has amassed so far will now go.
Maybe he will split them between between Biden and Sanders? Both candidates thanked Buttigieg for what he brought the primary and wished him well going forward:
But the much larger concern for some progressives is what Buttigieg's departure means for the race moving forward. As Nathan J. Robinson of Current Affairs tweeted:
And as Nate Silver of Five Thirty Eight points out:
"Buttigieg dropping out may actually increase the likelihood of a contested convention," added Silver. "He was polling at <15% almost everywhere on Super Tuesday, meaning he was tracking to get very few delegates, but his votes will help other candidates to get over 15% and get delegates."
Update: This post was updated from its original to include additional comment and reaction, including that from Sanders and Biden.