Clinton Is Endorsed 13 Of Democratic Women In Senate

(This image of Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton is from Politico.com.)

Hillary Clinton held a political fundraiser last night in Washington, D.C., and scored a real political coup while doing so. She received the endorsement of 13 Democratic women in the United States Senate -- Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin), Barbara Boxer (California), Maria Cantwell (Washington), Dianne Feinstein (California), Kirsten Gellibrand (New York), Heidi Heitkamp (North Dakota), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), Claire McCaskill (Missouri), Barbara Mikulski (Maryland), Patty Murray (Washington), Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), and Debbie Stabenow (Michigan).

So, how are all of the news media covering this news? They are focusing on the lone female Democratic senator that has not endorsed Clinton -- Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts). Most of the media seems to be treating this as though Warren has snubbed Clinton. If that is true, then she has also snubbed Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley -- because Warren has not endorsed any candidate in the Democratic race for the presidency. She has remained absolutely neutral.

We need to understand that Elizabeth Warren is in a different position than the other women senators. She is probably the only one with a real national following, and she is loved by progressives across the nation. But while that gives her more power than the others, it also puts her in a no-win situation. That's because progressives (who make up most of her following) are split between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton -- with about half supporting each candidate.

Whether she endorsed Clinton or Sanders, she is going to disappoint half of her followers. If she endorsed Clinton, Sanders supporters would be upset (and probably accuse her of just following the polls to be on the winning bandwagon) -- and if she endorsed Sanders, Clinton supporters would be upset (and probably accuse her of splitting the party in an important election). She doesn't need either of those headaches. She speaks for a large segment of the Democratic Party, and she likes it that way.

Warren is a loyal Democrat, and I have no doubt she'll support (and work hard for) the eventual nominee. But I don't expect her to endorse anyone in the Democratic primary. She likes her current job, so she doesn't need anything from any of the candidates. That means an endorsement could only hurt, not help, her with her supporters (and the party in general).

Some say Warren is withholding her endorsement to pressure the candidates to come over to her side on issues important to her (mostly economic issues). I don't think so. Both Clinton and Sanders already agree with Warren on most (if not all) economic issues. I believe she has just decided to stay out of it, and let the rank-and-file Democrats choose their candidate -- a candidate that will then have her full support.

NOTE -- Hillary Clinton also has the endorsement of 25 male Democratic senators -- giving her the support of 38 of the 46 senators in the Senate Democratic caucus.