Presidential candidate and Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard has ended her 2020 presidential run and endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

“I know Vice President Biden and his wife and am grateful to have called his son Beau, who also served in the National Guard, a friend. Although I may not agree with the Vice President on every issue, I know that he has a good heart and is motivated by his love for our country and the American people,” Gabbard said in a statement.

Gabbard stated the coronavirus pandemic as a reason for her dropping out, wanting to instead focus on battling the pandemic. “I feel that the best way I can be of service at this time is to continue to work for the health and wellbeing of the people of Hawaii and our country in Congress, and to stand ready to serve in uniform should the Hawaii National Guard be activated,” she said in a video on Twitter.

UBI stimulus

Gabbard had pushed for a universal basic income (UBI) stimulus worth US$1,000 for every American during the coronavirus pandemic, saying that not all Americans have emergency savings. “@jaketapper @CNN Will they support my legislation to implement an #EmergencyUBI for every American to receive direct assistance through $1,000/mo for the duration of this crisis? The most simple, direct means to ensure people can take care of themselves & loved ones #DemDebate,” Gabbard tweeted on March 16.

President Donald Trump announced a stimulus check worth US$1,000 for every American on March 17.

Hilary Clinton feud

Other factors such as Gabbard’s defamation lawsuit against Hilary Clinton and her popularity remaining at the low tier among Democratic presidential candidates may also have played a role in her decision to drop out. Gabbard has filed a lawsuit against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after the latter indirectly called Gabbard a “Russian asset”, suggesting that she is being groomed by Russians to be a third-party presidential candidate.

“I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate. She’s the favorite of the Russians,” Clinton told former Obama adviser David Plouffe in a podcast episode.
On October 18, 2019, Gabbard accused Clinton of defaming her and attempting to derail her presidential campaign.

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