Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has suspended her presidential marketing campaign and endorsed Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden, citing the institution favourite’s major victories and the coronavirus as her causes.
Gabbard made the shock announcement on Thursday in a video posted to her Twitter account, explaining she was dropping out to deal with coping with the coronavirus epidemic in Hawaii and doubtlessly serving in her Nationwide Guard capability ought to she be referred to as to motion.
The endorsement of Biden got here as a specific shock, given Gabbard’s opposition to “regime change wars,” a central plank of her platform. As vice chairman below Barack Obama, Biden was deeply concerned in increasing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into conflicts in Yemen, Libya, Syria, Somalia, and Pakistan.
Vital announcement.
From Oahu, Hawaiʻi. #StandWithTulsi pic.twitter.com/XcHshtgVYA— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) March 19, 2020
“Though I could not agree with the Vice President on each problem, I do know that he has a superb coronary heart and is motivated by his love for our nation and the American folks,” Gabbard mentioned in an announcement.
It’s unclear what the Hawaii Democrat’s subsequent play is – she introduced months in the past she didn’t plan to run for reelection to her seat within the Home after centrist Kai Kahele stepped as much as major her. Whereas Gabbard’s detractors have been shrieking for months that she plans to throw her hat into the ring as a third-party spoiler, her choice to endorse the centrist favourite poured chilly water on these speculations.
Truthfully, I’ll by no means forgive the despicable approach she was handled, how she was condescended to and dismissed, portrayed as an evil overseas agent, and so forth. She was all the time a Democrat! That's simply the truth. And so she's supporting the Dem nominee, regardless of robust reservations
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) March 19, 2020
That is the very last thing I anticipated.
Tulsi Gabbard is dropping out and endorsing Biden.
I believed she may find yourself being the following Jill Stein, however I used to be incorrect.
Tulsi grasps the risks of a Trump re-election.
This transfer deserves main props. https://t.co/f7ywnaBa2I
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) March 19, 2020
Regardless of traditionally low turnout as a consequence of coronavirus fears, Biden handily swept Tuesday’s primaries in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois, leaving Democratic Socialist challenger Bernie Sanders with an all-but-impossible path to victory. Gabbard highlighted this in her assertion, voicing her “appreciation” for Sanders however acknowledging his opponent’s seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.
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