The days between the South Carolina primary on Saturday and Super Tuesday have already been some of the most tumultuous of the 2020 Democratic primary, with former vice president Joe Biden bouncing back into a competitive position with delegate leader Senator Bernie Sanders, and Senator Amy Klobuchar, former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg and entrepreneur Tom Steyer dropping out of the race.

On the eve of Super Tuesday, what last week looked like a cluster of candidates vying desperately just to be viable to earn delegates in several of the states has now transformed into what may become a three way race between Mr Sanders, Mr Biden and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Tulsi Gabbard are also still in the race, though Ms Gabbard’s polling predicts she will not be competitive in any Super Tuesday state and Ms Warren’s polls suggest she is only competitive in her home state of Massachusetts where she currently trails Mr Sanders.

Biden Boost

With both Ms Klobuchar and Mr Buttigieg out of the race, it’s likely that their supporters - largely moderate Democrats and potentially moderate Republicans - will gravitate towards Mr Biden come Super Tuesday.

In fact, that’s the entire strategy. Ms Klobuchar immediately endorsed Mr Biden upon dropping out, and Mr Buttigieg, was due to do so on Monday night. That move puts a lot of momentum behind Mr Biden as the main moderate of choice.

Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters

Minnesota

Prior to her exit from the race, Ms Klobuchar was just barely edging out Mr Sanders as the most likely to win her home state of Minnesota. With Ms Klobuchar gone, her substantial support in the state will have to shift.

For those voting for Ms Klobuchar based on her politics, it’s likely they’ll migrate to Mr Biden. Voters supporting Ms Klobuchar because of her name recognition may wind up moving to Mr Bloomberg.

Either way, the race in Minnesota has transformed from a tight race between Mr Sanders and Ms Klobuchar to potentially a tight race between the senator and Mr Biden.

Anti-Bernie momentum

The point of all of the shifting since South Carolina is simple; Mr Buttigieg and Ms Klobuchar didn’t all of a sudden have changes of heart and decide that yes, Mr Biden would be a better president than they would. As moderate members of the party, they are working together to consolidate the moderate voters in the country to stop Mr Sanders.

Though it was obvious from the outset it is crystal clear now: the Democratic party at large is declaring war on Mr Sanders, his movement and his policies. What’s worse for Mr Sanders is that Ms Warren, despite having no clear path forward for a possible nomination, has refused to exit the race. Though it’s unlikely Mr Sanders would capture all of Ms Warren’s support, it’s likely a significant portion of them would rally to join his ranks.

Bloomberg

The wildcard in tomorrow’s race is former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg. Tomorrow will be his first - and depending on his performance and the performance of Mr Biden, potentially last - appearance on a ballot in the 2020 Democratic primary race. Mr Bloomberg has spent more than $200 million on advertising in Super Tuesday states to make himself a household name prior to the election.

Presently, Mr Bloomberg serves only to take votes away from Mr Biden and to potentially scoop up whatever voters only make a decision based on name recognition.