Whoooshhh… That’s the sound of Bernie Sanders’ leverage evaporating as the polls show Trump's candidacy imploding and the "establishment" Dems realize that they can win the general election without kissing Sanders' ass. The latest Bloomberg poll shows Clinton beating Trump by 12% even while getting the votes of only 55% of Sanders supporters. (Yup, that means she can win this thing handily WITHOUT the “Bernie or Bust” or “Never Hillary” crowd!) Bernie may have already waited too long to make an endorsement deal.
If the disgruntled Repubs who are now running for their lives are somehow able to derail Trump’s nomination and run a moderate, Bernie might be in the driver’s seat. But it seems more likely that Trump will be the nominee and this thing could be a runaway by the time of the Dem Convention. So Bernie might be smarter to take the package of parting gifts the Clinton people are offering him now for exiting the race rather than gambling on where things will be in late July.
I don’t think ANYTHING Clinton or Sanders or the “Democrat establishment” can do at this point will placate Sanders die-hard True Believers. They have been whipped into a frenzy of Clinton hate and distrust — heck, they are even calling their former madonna and patron saint Elizabeth Warren a turncoat! Clinton can promise — but if the Sandernistas don’t believe her, what’s the point?
It seems to me that what Bernie REALLY wants is to be nominated at the Convention and hear the states read his delegate totals and see demonstrations by his enthusiastic supporters. But that might be exactly the last thing the Clinton folks want to give him. (For the record, I think he deserves this place in history and it should be allowed.)
There will be language in the platform that lists universal healthcare as a goal, new banking regulations, wealth inequality, higher minimum wage, and affordable college education. Clinton might even allow some of the specifics Bernie likes to talk about — like a $15 min wage. (After all, when was the last time a Democrat Presidential candidate felt morally bound to the Party platform?)
Firing DWS? Maybe. Open primaries? Sure — if we can get rid of all the caucuses so no one can mount a primary challenge to her re-election in 2020. Eliminate the super delegates? Well, that’s not up to her… and I doubt that they’ll go quietly. Especially in light of what’s happening in the Republican Party right now. (Don’t they wish they had super delegates!)
We’ll see what Bernie has to say in his address on Thursday night. But I’m not expecting him to go as quietly and graciously as Clinton did in 2008. Or to campaign as hard for Dem nominees as she did then.
But it might not matter.