Which candidates should cooperate?

[Heebie Jeebie]

It's still very early in the Democratic nominating process and, in a field this overcrowded, I'd argue the competition for the nomination isn't yet zero-sum.  I think there are some candidates who would actually benefit from others doing well.  To game it out a little bit, let's start with the front-runner.

Biden is actually in a somewhat better position than he at first seems.  He's lost significant support to Harris, but I suspect that if he could choose any opponent to rise in the polls he'd choose her.  She acts as a check on Warren, Sanders, and Booker, each of whom would be much more threatening to Biden's chances if any one of them emerged as his primary opponent.  Harris, though, has no reason to hold back in her attacks on Biden.  She'd benefit most if he were to lose his front-runner status, and as such I'm sure she's praying someone like Michael Bennet can catch fire.  He's a moderate, establishment type who could draw from Biden without much affecting Harris's support.  If I were Harris, I'd be singing Bennet's praises whenever the opportunity came up.

If I were Warren, I'd be thrilled to see Castro gaining ground, and vice versa.  Castro helps Warren by putting pressure on Biden and Booker, both of whom are more directly threatening to Warren's chances.  Castro benefits from Warren putting pressure on Harris and Buttigieg, for similar reasons.  Castro should criticize Sanders and praise Warren whenever he can.

Booker would probably benefit most if Gillibrand could somehow gain traction, but since that seems unlikely to happen he should buddy up to Buttigieg.  Booker acts as a check on Harris and Castro, Buttigieg acts as a check on Biden, Warren, and Sanders.  It's win-win.

Speaking of Gillibrand, she should fire her campaign strategist.  She spent the last debate trying to out-progressive Warren and out-pluralist Booker, which she's never going to do.  She should be going hard at Buttigieg each and every day.  She's spent her Senate career fighting to make the military more inclusive and she should use that.  Buttigieg's "I couldn't get it done" was the perfect opening for her to shred him on how she has gotten it done, but she passed.  Huge wasted opportunity.  But I digress...

[SaneDemocrat]

Bernie would hugely benefit if Biden stays in as long as possible.

[Heebie Jeebie]

Bernie would hugely benefit if Biden stays in as long as possible.

I don't see it.  What makes you think that?

[Ogre Mage]

I don't know about cooperate, but if I were Kamala Harris I would not attack Sanders.  Polling suggests that if he were to drop out, the large majority of his support would go to Biden and Warren. 

If I were Biden I would want Pete Buttigieg to stay in the race.  Pete's entire base is college-educated white progressives.  Biden's appeal to that group is lukewarm.  But that demographic is good for Harris and Warren, so Buttigieg's presence is probably more harmful to them.

[Hoosier_Nick]

Bernie would hugely benefit if Biden stays in as long as possible.

I don't see it.  What makes you think that?

I think Bernie, an old white guy who is very liberal, would contrast better with Biden, a fellow old white guy who is decently moderate. Against Warren, Harris or Buttigieg, he'd look bad imo. I hate to rely on identity politics so much, but optics matter.

[terp40hitch]

Gabbard, Sanders, Warren

Hickenlooper, Bennet

Biden, Buttigieg

Gillibrand, Klobuchar

Williamson, Yang, Gravel, Gabbard

[Ilhan Apologist]

I feel like Warren and Sanders could collude to each withdraw from areas where the other is stronger (since they appear to have very different bases).