Why it makes sense that Elizabeth Warren has not endorsed anyone

[thesquanderer]

Elizabeth Warren's silence on endorsement makes a lot of sense.

We know she has a preference. We know she voted in the Massachusetts primary, even though we don't know for whom.

Philosophically, it seems she would want Sanders in the race for as long as possible, pushing his issues, which are largely her issues. This is obviously true if she actually prefers that he get the nomination, but is even true if she actually supports Hillary.

IF she actually supports Hillary for president, coming out with that endorsement would not necessarily be in her best interest, because doing so would diminish Bernie's campaign, which as I said, is not ideal for her, as he is pushing her issues... even pushing Hillary on those issues.

IF she actually supports Bernie for president, coming out with that endorsement would likewise not necessarily be in her best interest, because it would diminish her own influence with Hillary, which would especially be a negative if Hillary ends up being the next president.

In the latter case, while she may want to endorse Bernie, it would make sense to wait until such time that it is clear that he has a serious shot at success (so as not to damage her rep with Hillary unnecessarily for what would be a very unlikely outcome), but also possibly still early enough that her endorsement could actually help him win.

After tonight, maybe she will be a lot closer to making an endorsement decision, one way or the other...

[Jackie Wilson Said]

1. She is sitting on the fence for her own political reasons.

I like her, dont get me wrong, but if she is the advocate she says she is she is likely a Bernie supporter.

But her political life will be easier if she doesnt jump the gun on that, wont it.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. Sure. It's been obvious as simple everyday politics for quite some time.

The problem, inasmuch as there is one, is simply that that's not 'leadership'. It's simply doing what's politically expedient, which is one of the things voters are fed up with at the moment. People were wanting more from her than simply acting like any other politician.

[RiverLover]

3. Yes.

Very true.

[djean111]

4. Nah. I am a "people", I really like Warren, and I am not expecting anything from her, concerning

endorsements. The whole Congress, IMO, is being "politically expedient". Endorsements don't mean all that much, really.

Thing is, Warren NOT endorsing Hillary is a pretty good stance. If Warren did endorse Hillary, it would make no difference, again IMO, to Bernie's supporters, because an endorsement does not override the very real issue differences.

[thesquanderer]

5. I think her endorsement could change things

re: "If Warren did endorse Hillary, it would make no difference, again IMO, to Bernie's supporters, because an endorsement does not override the very real issue differences."

I agree it wouldn't make much difference to most Bernie supporters who are likely to vote for him anyway. But it could sway people who are on the fence, or who are considering voting for Bernie only to the extent that they have a sense he could possibly win. A Warren endorsement of Hillary would make her seem even that much more inevitable. (And conversely, if she endorsed Bernie, it would make Hillary seem slightly less inevitable.)

[thesquanderer]

6. Picking up from the last sentence in the OP...

...I guess last night didn't change anything. Not enough of a Bernie blowout to convincingly start to rally everyone around Hillary, and obviously not a strong enough showing by Bernie to give him a more persuasive case to make for his own success. So I think it may be time for the EW groundhog to go back into the ground, as we await probably at least 4 more weeks of no endorsement.

[brooklynite]

7. I'd say Russ Feingold also supports many of Sanders' issues...

...but he's politicall savvy enough to know Sanders is risky as a candidate.

Maybe Warren feels the same way.

[thesquanderer]

8. In addition to the Warren considerations...

...he's also running for office himself (and not even as an incumbent), so he has additional concerns of his own. He may not want to not risk offending Hillary supporters OR Bernie supporters, he will need both groups of supporters in November.

[Skwmom]

9. IMO she has endorsed Clinton by not endorsing. She is not a fighter. She will endorse Clinton.

[thesquanderer]

10. Well, she is making *some* statement by being the only Dem woman in the Senate...

...who has not (yet) endorsed HRC. But ultimately, sure, she will certainly fully support her in the general no matter what.

[seabeyond]

11. Meh... I would have respected her a lot more taking a position. But, certainly hers to do.