Sanders claims Buttigieg, Klobuchar dropped out only b/c establishment "put a great deal of pressure

[karynnj]

38. It is very likely in both Pete's and Amy's best interest to have done what they did

They clearly saw they had no 2020 path. They are both young. Leaving as they did - they left on a positive note and will both have a role in the General election campaign. They left with Biden praising them and their campaigns.

What was the alternative? It is very likely that both would have been out 2 days later or within the next 2 weeks. Sanders expected to get an insurmountable delegate lead by getting 30 to 35 % of the vote with many moderate votes on SuperTuesday going to below threshold candidates. There was talk of him getting the lion's share - if not all of California's vote doing just that. If many of us on DU read of that possibility, certainly the candidates and their teams did. Not to mention - Sanders' surrogates were calling for Warren to drop out to help him before ST.

It was in the self interest of Amy and Pete to do what they did. (Especially for Pete, who is not a sitting Senator like Amy.)