Elizabeth Warren Drops Out Of Race, Calls Presidential Campaign 'Honor Of A Lifetime'
BOSTON (CBS) – Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ended her presidential campaign on Thursday, calling her candidacy "the honor of a lifetime."
The decision comes on the heels of Warren's third place finish in her home state on Super Tuesday, when the senator also struggled for viability in other states. She did not finish in the top two in any states during her time in the campaign.
Warren made the news official on a phone call with campaign staffers.
Outside of her Cambridge home later in the day, Warren told a swarm of reporters that the most difficult part of her decision was the disappointment for young girls who wanted to see a woman become president.
"One of the hardest parts of this is all those pinkie promises, and all those little girls who are going to have to wait four more years. That's going to be hard," she said.
The Massachusetts Democrat becomes the latest to exit the presidential race after former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg suspended his campaign Sunday night. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar followed suit on Monday, as did former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday.
Biden, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard are now the only candidates remaining in the Democratic field.
Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Bloomberg all endorsed Joe Biden after exiting the race. Warren said she does not have any immediate plans to make an endorsement.
"Not today. I need a little space around it and want to take a little time to think a little more," she said.
In a tweet, Biden called Warren "the fiercest of fighters" for the middle class.
Senator @EWarren is the fiercest of fighters for middle class families. Her work in Washington, in Massachusetts, and on the campaign trail has made a real difference in people's lives. We needed her voice in this race, and we need her continued work in the Senate.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 5, 2020
Sanders said Warren ran an "extraordinary campaign of ideas."
Sen. Warren has run an extraordinary campaign of ideas – demanding that the wealthy pay their fair share, ending corruption in Washington, guaranteeing health care for all, addressing climate change, tackling the student debt crisis and vigorously protecting women's rights.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 5, 2020
Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III tweeted his support for Warren.
To my Senator, my professor, and most importantly my friend @ewarren — you made this race better, our country better. Most importantly you let millions of little girls, just like Ellie, know that running for President is what girls do.
— Groundwork Project (@GroundworkProj) March 5, 2020
Sen. Ed Markey issued a statement, calling Warren's campaign "inspirational."
"My head and heart are with Elizabeth Warren. Her inspirational campaign made the country smarter and more engaged," Markey said. "I was so proud to vote for her and am honored to be her partner in the U.S. Senate. Donald Trump is the worst president in American history. I am committed to defeating Donald Trump on Election Day, and I will support the party's ultimate nominee. Because that decision is so important, I will be taking some time to consider who I will support."
In Cambridge, Warren said her job is to "keep fighting and to fight as smartly and effectively" as she can.
"I will not be running for president in 2020, but I guarantee I will stay in the fight for the hard working folks across this country who haven gotten the short end of the stick over and over. That's been the fight of my life and it will continue to be so," she said.
Amanda Hunter of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation in Cambridge said even though women weren't successful in the 2020 race, progress was still made. "People really look to her as a leader by releasing detailed plans and having well thought out positions she really pushed her opponents to do the same," Hunter told WBZ.