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With Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders locked in an intensifying struggle over Iowa and New Hampshire, the chatter among Democrats is turning to a big unknown: Which candidate will Elizabeth Warren endorse?
A Warren endorsement of Clinton before Iowa could help her stave off the Sanders challenge by signaling to more liberal voters who are intrigued by Sanders’ candidacy that she should be seen as sufficiently progressive on Warren’s core issues, such as Wall Street oversight and accountability. On the other hand, a Warren endorsement of Sanders before Iowa could help Sanders pull off an upset there, which would likely be followed by a New Hampshire victory, possibly shifting the dynamic in later contests, though she’d still be the favorite. It’s hard to know how much influence a Warren endorsement would have. But it might have some.
I think the Post is being a little overly careful with its choice of words here.
In my opinion if Warren were to endorse Hillary it would essentially be game over for Sanders.
Remember in many ways Sanders is it kind of a de facto surrogate for her in that he attracts many of the supporters who were eagerly anticipating a Warren candidacy, and he speaks to the core issues that made her attractive in the first place.
So if she endorses Hillary, and especially if she campaigns for her, much of that support will fall away.
However IF Warren decides to favor Sanders with her endorsement, then that changes things in a dramatic way as well, and I think that suddenly Bernie's path the White House becomes all that much clearer.
Having said that the REAL game changer is if Warren signs on as either Sanders' or Clinton's VP choice.
If THAT happens then she would for all intents and purposes decide the election.