The second round of Democratic presidential debates could be former congressman John Delaney's swan song, as if his team get its way, he'll drop out of the race not long after.

The 2020 Democrat's staffers recommended on July 9 that he drop out of the 2020 race by mid-August after thinking he "flopped" during the first Democratic debate and is virtually assured of being shut out of third one in September, Axios reports. Delaney, who has been polling at less than one percent, did qualify for the second round of Democratic debates later this month, but the threshold is being raised starting in September, and Delaney is one of a number of candidates expected to not meet the new requirements.

According to this report, Delaney "seemed open" to dropping out this summer during a recent meeting with his staffers, although he still wanted to hang in there long enough to attend the second debate. He's set to participate in the second round's first night, debating alongside Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on a separate night than former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).

If Delaney, who sources close to the campaign complained about to Axios by saying that "every other day he would have a different position," does leave the race soon, he could be the second major 2020 dropout after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). Then again, with reports of turmoil within the campaign of former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, the question of which 2020 candidate named John will next drop out on the advice of their frustrated staffers may be a real nail-biter. Brendan Morrow