US voters turn their backs on female candidatesDemocratic primaries started with a record number of women, but now nearly all have dropped outElizabeth Warren (above) is one of the two women left in the race to run for the US presidency, but both have little chance of winning the nomination © Brian Snyder/ReutersShare on Twitter (opens new window)Share on Facebook (opens new window)Share on LinkedIn (opens new window)ShareSaveCourtney Weaver in Washington YESTERDAYPrint this page253Ahead of the North Carolina primary, Mellicent Blythe was torn between two candidates: Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator, and Amy Klobuchar, her Minnesota colleague.Yet when she came to cast her ballot on Tuesday, Ms Blythe, a social worker in Durham, North Carolina, found herself voting for the former vice-president Joe Biden: “I feel hypocritical because I did what I get frustrated with other people doing. I didn’t vote for Warren, because I was petrified she was going to lose out to [Bernie] Sanders and then Sanders would lose out to [President Donald] Trump.”

Source: US voters turn their backs on female candidates | Financial Times

Northern Comment – Elizabeth Warren is by far the most able candidate, who combines sharp intellect with genuine progressive values. It is a real shame that she did not get through to challenge President Trump. The contrast in terms of ability, values, morality, understanding of the mores of a democratic system, and the American constitution could not be greater. Elizabeth Warren has them President Trump does not.

I can however sympathise with voters wrestling with the question: who will beat Donald Trump, not who will be the best President. Whether these two issues are distinct is a moot point but you can understand why they apply in this election more than any other in modern American history.

Now it is Biden versus Sanders. In a time which demands radical change my preference would be Bernie Sanders. It is, in my view, perfectly reasonable the supporters of the two candidates should work as hard as they can now to get their choice the nomination.

But as soon as a decision is arrived at, the losing candidate must throw all his support behind the successful candidate. He must actively campaign to ensure all his supporters vote for the person running against Trump. Either of the candidates, indeed any of those that entered the race and dropped out would be preferable to President Trump. He is an existential threat, not just to US democracy, but to democracy around the world.

Nothing is more important that preventing Trump gaining 4 more years.