These Democratic candidates should drop out now

Joe Biden survived the second round of Democratic presidential debates, but it became more apparent that more than half the 24-person field is irrelevant and should get out, the sooner the better.

The former vice president was repeatedly under attack on health care, criminal justice, immigration and abortion. He stumbled sometimes, but overall was sharper than his mediocre performance in the first debate a month ago.

This won’t assuage fears of mainstream Democrats that the 76-year-old Biden may not be up to the challenge of a protracted primary fight and bitter battle against President Trump. Still he was sufficiently engaged to probably maintain his front-runner status entering the critical post-Labor Day political cycle.

The most intense exchanges were with his nemesis from the last debate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, over multiple issues, especially health care. This time, however, he dished out as much as he took. And Harris was on the defensive for part of the evening, including over her newly released health care plan which calls for “Medicare for All,” while preserving some private insurance.

This, as in the debate the night before, underscored the dominance of leading contenders: Biden, Harris, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Vermont’s Sen. Bernie Sanders. It seems impossible for most of the others to gain any traction at this point.

Of course all the second- and third-tier candidates have every right to run and stay in. For most of them, however, the main purpose may be to boost speaking fees, get a cable television gig or someday regale their grandchildren.

The winnowing process will be facilitated by a higher threshold to qualify for the next debate in September — at least 130,000 individual contributors and higher ratings in polls. These rules are set by the Democratic National Committee. 

In a large field, there often are three phases before primary voting and caucuses start next February. First, the obvious also-rans drop out; that probably will be early fall. Then a few months later, the futility and lack of support winnow out a second batch. That would leave up to as many as half a dozen in the top tier to seriously compete in the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire.

While there’s always a natural winnowing, quite a few candidates could save us all the trouble (and another two-night debate marathon) and drop out now.

Some of those who should soon disappear have credentials — Govs. John Hickenlooper from Colorado and Jay Inslee from Washington state have substantive achievements, but they simply aren’t resonating. Former Maryland Congressman John Delaney has scored points critiquing left wing initiatives, but he has campaigned in all 99 Iowa counties for two years and has nothing to show for it.

At this point there is no longer a rationale for the candidacies of New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; members of Congress Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii); entrepreneur Andrew Yang; spiritual self-help author Marianne Williamson; New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer.

If they stay in the contest, they will remain peripheral.

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg — who has been slipping lately but has an enthusiastic base, and last quarter, raised more money than any other Democrat — will likely remain in the race with the top four of Biden, Harris, Sanders and Warren.

Of the others, about a half-dozen are either long shots to crack that top group or are adding to the debate. They include New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker who, while far back in the polls, had an impressive performance at the Detroit debate; former Obama Cabinet member Julián Castro; former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, the biggest disappointment of the campaign so far; Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who also had a strong showing last evening; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota; and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

Sure, this is subjective. Yet it’s possible to see each of them involved in the dialogue this autumn. For example, Bullock, a late entry, more than any other candidate can cite success in a Republican or red venue.

Of those who are major players, Sanders and especially Warren dominated the first debate this week. They doubled down on their expansive and expensive proposals for a government-run heath care plan — though Warren was vague on the funding — brushing aside a barrage of criticism from other candidates.

This was, however, the first concerted assault on their single-payer plan that would eliminate almost all private health insurance. This would affect, for example, a number of generous health care benefits negotiated by unions.

Organized labor is skeptical about the Sanders-Warren proposals. Because some unions in their coalition, like the nurses, are vocal proponents, top union leadership has been largely quiet. But the Biden-backing International Association of Fire Fighters union broke this week to say directly it would “find it difficult to support any candidate” who wants to eliminate the option of private plans. Labor sources said other unions are likely to weigh in. 

Barring something unexpected, like a surprise scandal or health problem, the next six weeks should be rather quiet. It will engage in full force after Labor Day — with a less unwieldly field.

Albert R. Hunt is the former executive editor of Bloomberg News. He previously served as reporter, bureau chief and Washington editor for the Wall Street Journal. For almost a quarter-century he wrote a column on politics for The Wall Street Journal, then the International New York Times and Bloomberg View. Follow him on Twitter @alhuntdc.