For those planning to embark on a career in politics, one of the major considerations is ‘when do I call it quits’? Elections are long, exhausting, and expensive, and often, candidates decide to suspend their campaigns before the votes are in. But why do some candidates decide to suspend their campaigns post-announcement? Let’s explore the reasons why candidates can choose to suspend their campaigns and the key decisions which must be made along the way.
1. Suspension of Presidential Campaigns: What’s the Story?
2020 has been a tumultuous year for the United States – and when it comes to the presidential campaigns of this election, one of the most noteworthy aspects has been the suspension of various campaigns. So, what’s the story behind this development?
Jaunt around the early months – The presidential campaigns kicked off at around the start of 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many aspects changed. Political rallies and events were shut down, forcing candidates to take their campaigns online.
Suspension – Numerous campaigns were suspended in the second quarter of 2020. The following suspensions stand out among the others:
- Pete Buttigieg
- Elizabeth Warren
- Spike Cohen
- Deval Patrick
There are multiple theories as to why these campaigns were suspended. Some speculate that the coronavirus had a negative financial impact on the campaigns, while some cite lack of sufficient support or gain in the polls as the primary reason.
Impacts – The suspension of these high-profile campaigns had a tremendous impact on the election. It narrowed down the choices of the voters and left many of the candidates’ supporters without a representative in the race. Additionally, the suspensions also changed the course of the election debates, as the candidates who had dropped out of the race were excluded from debates.
2. Reasons Behind Candidates Calling It Quits
Financial Struggles
Money can make or break a campaign. When a candidate announces their candidacy, they could be signing a ticket to financial distress. A successful campaign requires lots of money – for advertisements, staff and travel. Once these obligations start piling up, the bills remain even after a candidate drops out if the fundraising does not maintain pace. This stress often leads to a candidate removing themselves from the running.
Lack of Needed Support
It could be that candidates don’t attribute their dropping out to financial issues. Rather, they don’t have the backer’s support needed to carry on with the campaign. Without a strong show of support, it can be quite difficult to keep running, effectively leading the candidate to take a step back.
Competing Priorities and Absence of Proper Planning
When campaign demands become too much for candidates to take on, that could be a sign of a distant goal. Sometimes, a candidate might decide to pull out of the race they could have a change of heart or focus. Competing priorities and the absence of proper planning are often why a politician decides to pull the plug.
Reputation Damage
A candidate’s reputation could also be why they pull out. They might realize that they have been too ambitious and refuse to accept the disappointment of the majority. Additionally, dropping out could be a result of a damaged reputation. If the public is unconvinced of their ideals and principles, it can be very difficult to seek re-election.
3. Breaking Down the Possible Motives
Motives can often be complex and can vary greatly from person to person. To get to the root of the issue, it’s important to explore the underlying reasons that can lead someone to behave a certain way. This can be done by .
Rewards: People may act with the intention of enjoying some kind of benefit or reward. This could be something tangible, such as money, or something intangible, such as recognition or status. In either case, the idea of gaining something can be a strong motivator.
Avoidance: On the flip-side, some people may act with the intention of avoiding pain or discomfort. This could be trying to sidestep a negative outcome, such as getting scolded or losing something. Alternatively, it could be an effort to avoid an uncomfortable situation.
Attitudes and Beliefs: As humans, we’re guided by our attitudes and beliefs. Our values can have a profound effect on how we act and behave. Whether it’s upholding a tradition or trying to prove a point, our attitudes and beliefs can contribute to the reasons we do the things we do.
- Rewards
- Avoidance
- Attitudes and Beliefs
4. Weighing the Pros and Cons of Stepping Away
Stepping away from your dreams can be difficult; the emotional difficulty of having to admit defeat is only compounded by the physical strain of the journey. But no matter how impossible it seems at first, sometimes you have to take a step backward in order to take two steps forward later. Weighing the pros and cons of taking a step back is an important part of making the right decision.
When it comes to deciding whether to step away or not, there are several things to consider. On the one hand, you might have to sacrifice the progress you’ve made so far. But on the other hand, a change of scenery could allow you to focus on new and unexplored opportunities.
- Taking a break could give you valuable perspective and allow you to gain fresh insight into your goals.
- It could be a good time to reassess your plan and reframe your objectives.
- You would be giving yourself an opportunity to come back to your goals with more drive and enthusiasm.
- You might be able to collect the resources necessary to make your dream a reality.
Setbacks can be frustrating, but if you take the time to look at the bigger picture, stepping away can offer a valuable chance for reflection and renewal. Letting go of your current plans may open up doors you hadn’t previously seen. The path to success is often paved with unexpected detours, and taking a step back now could be the beginning of an exciting and rewarding journey.
5. The Impact of Suspending a Presidential Campaign
When a presidential candidate suspends their campaign for whatever reason, it may have a number of effects on the broader election. Some of these effects could be both short-term and long-term.
Short-Term Impact. Suspending a presidential campaign could drastically shake up the race. It may mean that certain party-wide resources must be reallocated to other candidates, and endorsements will be shifted to alternative candidates. Even the intensity of campaigning on behalf of a given candidate will be affected by their departure.
Flow of Voter Opinion. Depending on the reason for the suspension, the remaining candidates are likely to experience a change in public sentiment. This could be either positive or negative depending on the nature of dropping out of the race. It may also create an opportunity for the voter opinion to move and consolidate around new frontrunners in the race.
Long-Term Impact. The long-term impact of suspending a presidential campaign is highly dependent on the standing of the candidate at the time of suspension. In some cases, the remaining candidates go on to win despite the suspension of a major competitor. Additionally, the credibility of the candidate may be severely affected if the campaign was shut down due to conflict issues. Some of the effects can include:
- Damaging of the candidate’s public image
- Undermining the legitimacy of their policies
- Reducing the likelihood of being considered or recruited for other notable roles
In some cases, a suspended campaign could even have repercussions down the line in the form of reduced support for similar candidates in future elections.
6. Discussion of the Long-term Implications
It is important to assess the long-term implications of any action taken. It can help to guide decision-making and strategic thinking, as well as minimize any potential risks. When considering the long-term implications of an initiative, the following factors should be considered:
- Environmental impact: What are the long-term environmental impacts of the decision in question? Are these significant and worthy of consideration?
- Economic impact: What will the economic effects of the decision be in the long term? Will the impact be positive or negative?
- Social impact: How does the decision affect the people it impacts, both now and in the future?
- Technological impact: How will the decision influence the development of technology and its utilization?
In order to accurately assess the long-term implications of a given decision, it must be viewed through multiple lenses. Any effects that appear beneficial in the short term may have unintended consequences in the future that are not currently visible. Long-term considerations should not be limited to the direct impacts but also consider any potential side effects. Additionally, it is essential to consider how the decision may affect future generations, as the ripple effects of the decision may extend much further into the future than can currently be determined.
It is important to consider the long-term implications of any decision since these can have far-reaching impacts. Such considerations must involve research, thought, and discussion. By doing so, any potential risks can be minimized, and the best possible decision can be made for the good of the present and future.
7. Looking Ahead: A New Road to the White House
With the changing of the guard looming over the horizon, the topic of who will hold the keys to the White House come 2021 has been an intense point of discussion. Though the outcome of the elections is up in the air, plenty of speculation has been made to assess the viability of the candidates and their likelihood of success.
On the Republican side of the aisle, incumbent President Donald Trump is set to run for a second term. Much of his presidency so far has been controversial, to say the least. Despite this, he has managed to gain the favor of a strong base of supporters. Whether these will be enough to keep him in office will remain to be seen in November.
Running against him are an array of individuals from the Democratic side. Among them is the former vice president, Joe Biden. He has plenty of experience in the government, and it is this that will likely play to his strengths. He also stands for progressive change that many are adamant should come. Therefore, a Biden presidency has become attractive to many.
In contrasty, there is also an outside faction of candidates more driven by independent thoughts in the form of Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard. While the latter has since dropped out of the race, Andrew Yang is still going strong with his signature proposal of a universal basic income. Though it doesn’t have everyone sold, it is seen as a creative solution in the changing times.
No matter who ultimately ends up gaining the majority of voters, it will signal the dawn of a new era for the United States of America. We can only hope that whoever wins will make the best decisions to ensure the wellbeing of the people.
The suspension of a campaign has farreaching implications that may alter the course of the race or ultimately end it. As with any decision, understanding why a campaign might suspend its candidacy is a complex question. However, if candidates take the time to understand why a suspension might be the best move for their campaign or candidacy, they may be able to make decisions and move forward in the race that better serves their candidacy.