Sen. Elizabeth Warren appears at an event in Detroit on Tuesday as election results roll in.
(Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
By Annie Linskey and Sean Sullivan. Washington Post
DETROIT — Top surrogates and allies of Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are discussing ways for their two camps to unite and push a common liberal agenda, with the expectation that Warren is likely to leave the presidential campaign soon, according to two people familiar with the talks.
The conversations, which are in an early phase, largely involve members of Congress who back Sanders (I-Vt.) reaching out to those in Warren’s camp to explore the prospect that Warren (D-Mass.) might endorse him. They are also appealing to Warren’s supporters to switch their allegiance to Sanders, according two people with direct knowledge of the conversations who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss delicate discussions that are supposed to be confidential.
Warren associates and the camp of former vice president Joe Biden also had talks about a potential endorsement if she drops out, according to two people familiar with the conversations.
The whirlwind of activity reflects the rapid changes in a Democratic primary that is still very much in transition. As late as Tuesday, many Warren allies believed she would stay in the race until the Democratic convention, despite her poor showing to date in the primaries, in hopes of retaining her clout and influencing the eventual nominee.
Biden claims big victory, Sanders hauls in delegates on Super Tuesday
2020 Democratic presidential candidates reacted as election results came in on Super Tuesday, when 1,357 delegates were up for grabs.
(Mahlia Posey/The Washington Post)
But after Warren’s bleak performance in the Super Tuesday primaries, her associates, as well as those of Sanders and Biden, say she is now looking for the best way to step aside. There is no certainty she will endorse Sanders or anyone else, but the talks reflect the growing pressure on the senator from Massachusetts to withdraw.
Warren campaign manager Roger Lau suggested Wednesday she was considering that. “Last night, we fell well short of viability goals and projections, and we are disappointed in the results,” he wrote to campaign staffers in a note obtained by The Washington Post. “We are going to announce shortly that Elizabeth is talking to the team to assess the path forward.”
Warren and Sanders spoke by phone Wednesday, Sanders told reporters in Vermont. “She has not made any decisions as of this point,” he said. “It is important for all of us, certainly me, who has known Elizabeth Warren for many, many years, to respect the time and the space she needs to make a decision.”
“She has run a strong campaign,” Sanders said. “She will make her own decision in her own time.”
Liberal groups that endorsed Sanders are now planning a conference call for Thursday, in part to discuss the impact of Warren’s candidacy on the race and the potential effect of withdrawal.
