Going head to head for first and only time March 15, Democrat Primary voters had enough of debates, watching some 20 candidates share the debate stage, all of whom but Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) dropped out. Watching the last debate without an audience March 15, CBS News had the lowest ratings in the debate calendar, not so much because of a lack of interest but because Democrat voters made up their minds after the South Carolina primary Feb. 29 that they were lining up behind former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Del.). Bernie gave it his all but Democrat voters concluded in large numbers, across all Party demographics, that Joe had the best shot of going up against 73-year-old President Donald Trump. Joe talked about Bernie’s revolutionary ideas but in the end voters just didn’t believe that Bernie would have the best chance of beating Trump in November.
Joe said March 25 that he was done with Democrat primary debates, in effect denying Bernie more free publicity before the Democrat National Convention slated for July 13 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hopefully when the coronavirus AKA SARS CoV-2 or Covid-19 has satisfactory containment. If containment doesn’t come by July 13, all bets are off, with the DNC conventions having to go virtual, in some sort of video format without crowds of people. No one knows for sure whether either the DNC Convention or Republican National Convention [RNC] in Charlotte, N.C. Aug. 24 will happen because of coronavirus. Once Super Tuesday finished March 3, and mini-Super Tuesday March 10, Biden ed Bernie 12, 217 pledged delegates to 914. Election experts believe Bernie has no mathematical way to catch Biden before the convention, expecting to get the lion’s share of super-delegates.
Despite the bleak outlook, Bernie announced March 24 that he was continuing his presidential campaign. Biden has practically stood on his head to get Bernie to drop out, knowing the 78-year-old Vermont Senator has no way of winning. “Bernie Sanders is still a candidate for the Democratic nomination,” said senior Campaign Advisers Mike Weaver. “One of thing that means is working to secure votes in future contests,” knowing the arithmetic doesn’t add up. Biden put things in perspective March 25, saying he would focus on dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. “My focus is just dealing with this crisis right now,” Biden said at a virtual press conference. “I haven’t thought about any more debates. I think we’ve had enough debates. I think we should g et on with this,” letting Bernie know that as far as Joe was concerned he considers himself the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Sanders hasn’t yet gotten the message from Democrat voters that they back Biden, not him. “Senator Sanders is still running for president,” Sanders campaign communication director Mike Casca said in a statement. “If there is a debate in April, he plans to be there,” not getting the message from Joe that Bernie would be there by himself. Cononavirus has sucked the oxygen out of the Democrat primary campaign, creating some urgency to end the free-for-all that watched all remaining candidates back Biden for president. Speculation centers now on whom Joe will pick for a running mate with such names as former presidential candidates Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Amy Klobushar (D-Minn.), and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrahms (D-Ga.). No one thinks about whom Bernie would pick as his running mate.
Biden’s decision to end Democrat primary debates essentially ends Bernie’s campaign without an official announcement. With all campaigns rallies suspended due to “shelter in place” orders, Bernie’s left with TV appearances or running ads until his money runs out. With Biden appearing as the presumptive Democrat nominee, there’s not much room for fund raising left for Bernie. Even Bernie’s most ardent supporters, the so-called “Bernie Bros,” have all but given up knowing that the delegate math isn’t there. With the coronavirus dominating the headlines, Biden’s having a hard time getting any traction in the media. Criticizing Trump’s handling of the crisis could easily backfire with Trump’s approval ratings rising. Biden’s campaign finds itself in limbo trying to gain traction when the coronavirus has cannibalized the news cycle, leaving little room for presidential campaigns.
Biden’s decision to say no to future primary debates ends Bernie’s long-shot run for president. While he gave 72-year-old former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham a run for her money in 2016, the same magic wasn’t there for Bernie this time around. Winning Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada looked like Bernie had momentum but when Joe won South Carolina Democrat voters decided that he was the best option going up against Trump in November. Things went from bad to worse for Bernie on Super Tuesday and min-Super Tuesday, leaving the self-declared Democrat socialist behind the Eight Ball. Bernie didn’t get wiped out by Biden because he did something wrong, Democrat voters just decided Joe was the last best hope to beat Trump. With coronavirus running wild, there’s little Joe can do other than hope that the epidemic phases out in the next month.
