Should Beto's exit be a signal to other struggling candidates to call it a day?

[Otto Lidenbrock]

Let me be clear firstly, I have no issue with anyone running but now less than a hundred days to Iowa and just two more debates in 2019 to go, the field should be clearing up IMO.

In someone like Michael Bennet's case I feel sad because he is a fine man and a principled Democrat. But he hasn't made the last few debates and his polls have never grown. He has never had any traction. Then you have Cory Booker and Julian Castro who tackle issues of social justice as well if not better than anyone else but whose campaigns were on life support as they needed to raise a certain amount by a certain date just to keep going. And still have issues with qualifying for the next debate.

Beto didn't resort to that - his campaign didn't have the means or path ahead so that was that. It didn't work out for him now but he has a bright future whichever path he takes. I actually respect him more now because it takes humility to drop out. Especially when everyone had high hopes.

Therefore perhaps it is time for others to admit that if he dropped out despite having the energy and excitement among his base, despite qualifying for all the debates up to now, despite being a target of the Republicans, despite having the strongest financial numbers initially, despite having an element of name recognition...then the ones who don't have any of that need to follow his lead.

[Kaleva]

1. The criteria to qualify for the December debate will narrow the field considerably IMHO

Some, like Bennet, will continue on even if they don't make the December debate but most will withdraw.

So far, only Biden, Warren and Sanders have qualified for the December debate. Harris and Buttigieg are close and expected to but everyone else is a long shot.

[LakeArenal]

2. Candidates themselves get to decide.

[redqueen]

3. Yeah, that's not how this works. nt

[Sherman A1]

8. Precisely

[totodeinhere]

4. I hope that Beto will decide to run for Cornyn's Senate seat

He could beat Cornyn IMO. If he runs for that seat it could go a long way toward turning Texas from red to purple and eventually to blue.

[MyOwnPeace]

6. Should have done that

from the start.
A great candidate that has a promising future - a worthy Democrat!

[tritsofme]

7. That might have been true a few months ago, now he is no longer a viable statewide candidate

Any other Democratic candidate stands a better chance.

[left-of-center2012]

10. Got that right

[left-of-center2012]

11. Try telling Texans he's taking their guns away

nope

[ritapria]

5. The candidates who don't make the December debate should call it a day

I don't see any sensible reason for them to continue …...They're wasting our time , their time, - and a whole lot of money ……….

[pinkstarburst]

13. +1

I'm most concerned about how donations are continuing to be spread among so many candidates.

Much as it hurt to see Beto end his run, he did the unselfish thing IMHO, ending it when it was clear he was not going to qualify for the next debate.

[DrToast]

9. Amy Klobuchar is my favorite...

...but it's starting to feel like it's just not going to happen for her. If things don't turn around soon, it's probably time to pack it in.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

12. Everyone but Bernie should drop out.

It’s the right thing to do.