Elizabeth Warren’s Rise Is Not Surprising
The Senator’s ultra-prepared, substantive campaign is typical for women competing in male-dominated fields
Just two months ago, Elizabeth Warren was regarded as a “weak” candidate. She was, people said, too wonky, too nerdy, too wooden. Her unforced error in responding to Trump’s “Pocahontas” taunt — not only performing a DNA test to “prove” her Native American heritage, but releasing a video about it — made her seem clueless. She was outflanked on every side: by establishment stalwart Joe Biden, by cult of-personality candidate Bernie Sanders, and by media darlings like Beto O’Rourke and Pete Buttigieg.
Yet, a few weeks later, here we are: Beto has cratered in the polls, Buttigieg is falling fast, and Warren is consistently at the top, right behind Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. In some polls, she outperforms Sanders. Sure, some headlines are still dismissive or pitying. (“Warren tries to break out with flurry of policy proposals.”) But for the most part, the headlines have shifted to quiet bemusement at how well she’s doing: “Elizabeth Warren Gains Ground in 2020 Field, One Plan at a Time,” the New York Times proclaims. “Slowly and Persistently, Elizabeth Warren Is on the Rise,” says New York Magazine.
