Did the Democratic drop-outs essentially end the race?

[Renew Deal]

Hilary's poll numbers and leads have shot up over the last couple weeks. Did Bidens choice to not run and the departure of Webb and Chafee change the race? It looks like it might have essentially ended Bernie's campaign as well.

[brooklynite]

1. Two points...

1. Clinton has always had a solid lead. There was some excitement among Sanders supporters about New Hampshire, and how that was a harbinger of national trends, but the polling numbers never reflected that. Add to which, the current lead had pretty much solidified by mid September (Clinton's decline and Sanders growth both flattened) before anyone dropped out.

2. The race won't end, because Sanders isn't running just to win; he's running to push his agenda. Like Jerry Brown in 1992, he'll run up until the end of the Primary season, no matter how many votes he gets, to talk about the issues that concern him.

[Recursion]

2. And, at the risk of fantasy, Sanders staying in gives O'Malley breathing room.

If O'Malley and Sanders both stay in after NH, and if O'Malley beats Sanders in either SC or NV (neither of which is inconceivable), the media narrative changes very quickly.

[seabeckind]

4. The media narrative won't change. n/t

[NurseJackie]

12. I'd love to see O'Malley do well! He's a good man and an underrated candidate.

(And if he does, the reaction from the hardcore Bernie followers will be fun to watch too.)

[Recursion]

15. That would be kind of magical (nt)

[Duckhunter935]

17. I do too

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. I believe you mean 1992

The race won't end, because Sanders isn't running just to win; he's running to push his agenda. Like Jerry Brown in 2004, he'll run up until the end of the Primary season, no matter how many votes he gets, to talk about the issues that concern him.

[brooklynite]

6. Correct; it's early

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. McGovern's 84 campaign was a message campaign as well.

eom

[sufrommich]

3. I think both the debate and her performance

at the GOP Benghazi/witch trial helped her more that anything else.

[Duckhunter935]

8. I will say it here and now

Many will regret it when the anointed one gets the nomination and evolves back to the right.

[VanillaRhapsody]

10. If the majority of Democrats (and that is a proven fact now) support her

how is that "anointed"?

[NurseJackie]

13. Old talking-points and buzzwords are hard to let go of, apparently. (nt)

[VanillaRhapsody]

14. No talking point like an old talking point!

[frylock]

18. No, I don't think they will.

[Cassiopeia]

9. Maybe we should wait until at least a few votes have been cast

before we call it over.

[frylock]

19. Too pragmatic.

[BooScout]

11. They never really dropped in....

Biden was never in. It was speculation that he 'may' jump in....and he never should have been included in polls.

Chafee and Webb never were in it with much of anything.....no campaigning to speak of, no support and no status in the polls.

I think Sander's campaign is stagnating because it never was going to appeal to the broad base of the Democratic Party.

[Gman]

16. Pretty much

If it was ever a rsce to begin with.