Bloomberg drops out as Warren reassesses campaign
LOS ANGELES — New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg suspended his presidential campaign and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was re-evaluating her candidacy Wednesday as the winnowing process in the Democrats’ 2020 nomination fight lurched forward after a consequential Super Tuesday.
Mr. Bloomberg became the third Democratic presidential contender to exit the race in three days. Like the others, he endorsed Joe Biden, the big winner on Super Tuesday with victories in 10 of 14 states, and called him the best chance to defeat President Donald Trump in November.
Sen. Bernie Sanders lashed back in a Wednesday news conference in Vermont, declaring himself in a “neck-and-neck” race with Mr. Biden, despite the former vice president’s overwhelming support from the Democratic establishment.
“What this campaign I think is increasingly about is, which side are you on?” Mr. Sanders said. “There has never been a campaign in recent history which has taken on the entire political establishment. That is an establishment that is working frantically to try to defeat us.”
The new sense of urgency from Mr. Sanders and his allies came just hours after a resurgent Mr. Biden scored victories from Texas to Massachusetts, revitalizing a presidential bid that was teetering on the edge of disaster just days earlier.
Mr. Sanders seized the biggest prize with a win in California but won just three other states.
Ms. Warren, Mr. Sanders’ progressive ally, huddled with
advisers Wednesday to determine if there was a reason to stay in the race after her Super Tuesday wipeout. She didn’t win a single state and finished in third place, after Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders, in her own home state of Massachusetts.
Mr. Sanders confirmed that he spoke with Ms. Warren early Wednesday.
“What Sen. Warren told me is she is assessing her campaign,” he said. “She will make her own decision in her own time.”
While Ms. Warren’s future is unclear, Tuesday’s round of voting helped clarify that the Democratic Party’s presidential field, which featured more than a half-dozen candidates a week ago, had turned into a two-man contest.
Both men are expected to begin receiving Secret Service protection, according to Biden campaign chairman, Rep. Cedric Richmond, who said Wednesday that the House Homeland Security Committee has asked the Secret Service to provide protection to all remaining major presidential candidates.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders already have
Secret Service code names: Biden’s is “Celtic” and Bernie’s is “Intrepid”
Mr. Biden’s campaign is embracing his renewed status as a Democratic frontrunner and is going on the offensive against Mr. Sanders. Mr. Richmond blasted the Vermont senator for suggesting that the Democratic establishment is colluding against the progressive’s White House bid. Mr. Richmond said Mr.
Biden is earning his votes.
“I just did not know that African Americans in the South were considered part of the establishment,” Mr. Richmond said, noting that Mr. Biden’s overwhelming support among black voters gave him wide delegate gains in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia, among other states.
African American voters, he continued, understand the importance of
“nominating a person that they know, nominating a person that can win.”
The Sanders campaign announced Wednesday that it would begin airing three new campaign ads in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Washington, states that hold primaries March 10 and March
17.
One of the new ads features archived footage of former President Barack Obama praising Mr. Sanders. It’s a not-so-subtle attempt by the Vermont senator to undercut Mr. Biden’s frequently spotlighting his closeness to Mr. Obama.
Mr. Biden’s victories were powered by Democratic voters who broke his way just days before casting their ballots — a wave of late momentum that scrambled the race in a matter of hours. In some states, the late-deciders made up roughly half of all voters, according to AP VoteCast, surveys of voters in several state primaries. He drew support from a broad coalition of moderates and conservatives, African Americans and voters older than
45.
In a statement announcing his departure, Mr. Bloomberg vowed to stay engaged in the 2020 election and his ultimate goal to ensure Mr. Trump is defeated this fall.
“I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden.”
Biden aides said they didn’t immediately know what to expect out of Mr. Bloomberg’s endorsement moving forward.
The former New York mayor has committed to turning his massive campaign operation toward the Democrats larger goal of defeating Mr. Trump this fall. It was not immediately clear if Mr. Bloomberg would use his resources and organization to help Mr. Biden in his nominating fight against Mr. Sanders.
Mr. Biden’s deputy campaign manager, Kate Bedingfield, said Mr. Biden is “thrilled” to have Mr. Bloomberg’s support. But she said conversations about what Mr. Bloomberg’s endorsement means in practice are ongoing.