Carol Mosley Braun has apparently decided to withdraw from the presidential race and will endorse Howard Dean.
This really is for the best. Braun’s campaign never really came together and she’s wisely realized that there’s no realistic way for her to become competitive. Braun’s campaign had no money, no real organization, and no meaningful support in any poll. Worse, she was incurring quite a bit of debt.
The timing seems a little odd. As recently as yesterday Braun was doing interviews, including an appearance on The Daily Show, sounding optimistic and excited about the race. Also yesterday, her campaign has touting having collected enough signatures to appear on the Illinois ballot. Why Braun suddenly decided to withdraw today is unclear.
I’m also unsure about what this will mean for Dean. Braun does not really have a meaningful base of support, so her endorsement doesn’t necessarily mean much.
Regardless, if Braun ran because she hoped to rehabilitate her public image, I think she’s succeeded. When she lost her Senate seat, Braun exited the political stage in an awkward way, plagued by criticism of ethical lapses and poor judgment. Braun’s presidential campaign, however, has shown her in a far more positive light. Particularly in the debates, Braun came across as a warm and intelligent woman with a positive and progressive approach to government. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Braun get a position in a presidential cabinet should a Dem win in November.
Nevertheless, the best part of Braun’s exit, as far as I’m concerned, is that it finally narrows the field of candidates a bit more. There are just too darn many of ’em.
I noticed that DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe was on CNN yesterday, arguing that he’d like to see candidates who fail to win any of the first nine contests (Iowa, New Hampshire, and the seven state primaries on Feb. 3) drop out.
“I think on the morning of February 4, if you’re a Democratic candidate for president and you haven’t won one of those nine contests, I would assume at that point you really need to assess your candidacy,” McAuliffe told CNN.
McAuliffe never used the words, “Joe Lieberman,” but I wonder if he was thinking it. I certainly was.