Why Is Tulsi Gabbard Still Running? Controversial Candidate Likely To Be Excluded From Democratic Debate

What was once an overcrowded Democratic field has significantly dwindled after Super Tuesday. Prominent candidates such as Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Michael Bloomberg have stepped aside, as two frontrunners, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have split 1,237 delegates of the 1,397 declared.

But one underdog Democratic candidate curiously remains in the race. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has not suspended her campaign despite having limited support and no realistic path to the nomination.

Gabbard, 38, won two delegates from American Samoa on Super Tuesday, but will likely not be on the debate stage, as the Democratic National Committee has now stipulated that candidates need at least 20% of delegates allocated to participate.

Gabbard has called on the two remaining candidates, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden, to urge the DNC to allow her to participate in the Democratic debate on March 15 in Phoenix.

“@JoeBiden @BernieSanders I’m sure you would agree that our Democratic nominee should be a person who will stand up for what is right. So I ask that you have the courage to do that now in the face of the DNC's effort to keep me from participating in the debates. #LetTulsiDebate,” Gabbard tweeted on Friday.

Gabbard's presence in the campaign has sparked controversy despite some positions that fit with other liberal candidates. She has publicly supported public healthcare for all citizens and believes that big banks such as Wells Fargo should be broken up.

An Iraq war veteran, Gabbard has touted her military experience and has spoken out about U.S. military campaigns. Her campaign has focused on non-interventionism and ending “regime change wars,” with Gabbard having met personally with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. She has opposed efforts by the U.S. to support anti-Assad rebels and also wants U.S. troops to return home from Afghanistan.

Gabbard has also made other questionable decisions and comments. She voted “present” on both impeachment charges against President Trump and has called impeachment “terribly divisive” for the country. She also urged the public to “move on” after the Special Counsel’s report on Russian interference was released in April, despite the possibility of Trump having obstructed justice during the investigation.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has referred to Gabbard as a “Russian asset,” while Gabbard has said that Clinton is a “warmonger.” Gabbard in January even filed a defamation lawsuit against Clinton seeking $50 million in damages for "carelessly and recklessly" impugning her reputation.

Gabbard has also frequently appeared on Fox News, a media outlet accused of a conservative bias.