You make a good point, there is always that "unknown" factor.  I did what I thought at the time was in the best interest for the community. I dropped out in order not to take precious votes away from like-minded candidates. 

The election outcome was the vote for a change so my decision, as hard as it was, proved right.

However, none of us ever anticipated something that seamed so impossible at the time would actually happen... that Renaud would  do a big 180 flip.