From Politico:
Bernie Sanders will work around the clock to make sure Donald Trump is not elected president, regardless of whether the Vermont senator wins the Democratic presidential nomination, his campaign manager said Tuesday.
“Well, he certainly has said that he will do everything — he will work seven days a week, night and day, to make sure Donald Trump is not president, and I’m confident that he will do that,” Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver told CNN. “Bernie Sanders, as you know, is a very effective campaigner on the stump.”
Weaver said Sanders has rallied millions of people, including young voters, independents and working-class people. “And I think he’ll take the message to them that Donald Trump would be a disaster for working-class and middle-class families in this country,” Weaver continued. “Putting the Republicans back in control of Washington is not a good strategy.”
Snip
…despite the reported chaos in Nevada regarding delegate selections last weekend, Weaver insisted Trump’s assertion that the system is rigged against Sanders was wrong and reiterated that Sanders will not run as a third-party candidate and will support the nominee.
“And that’s what he’s gonna do,” Weaver said. “Trump obviously would like a third-party candidate on the left so that he could try to divide the vote and win. But I think what you’re gonna see is unity to defeat Trump.”
He also suggested that the Sanders campaign is helping Clinton by refusing to bow out of the race early because they’re focusing on the issues that matter to voters…
Linked in my post below. Personally, I think we’d be better off with more than two strong national parties, but given the current system the #1 priority has to be to beat Trump and elect the Democratic nominee.
like more, continued reassurance. I’m sure many of the Sanders supporters would like to hear reassurance that their interests will be represented by the party, and they will have their earned seat at the table.
I’ve done about three hours of reading on Nevada, trying to figure out what happened, why they happened, and how they were misinterpreted. I haven’t watched the video that was on Periscope. The context, however, is as important as what actually happened. Actions, right or wrong, need to be interpreted.
It’s clear how many of the Bernie supporters saw things, but less clear how the NV Dems did. The Dems released a letter that gives us some idea of how they saw things, but I suspect it’s also somewhat reflexively belligerent. What’s missing from the story is what happened before all of this. There were lawsuits and fighting prior to the convention.
The media have been interviewing a lot of (intra-)partisans on the issue such as Angie Morelli, a convention delegate. That gives us the “she said.” The “he said” is also out there, but hearing from abject partisans isn’t likely to enlighten anyone much.
The NV Dems did something funny with the second voice vote on the rules. Was this a counter-reaction to the voice vote against the non-binding, preliminary credentials report? A lot of this is typical of conventions. One irony pointed out by Clinton supporters and so-called objective sources is the fact that the Sanders supporters were complaining about democracy while they hoped to overturn the will of the original caucus goers.
I’m not saying this was the NV Dems motivation because I don’t have any insight, but can you imagine a contentious debate over rules at the beginning of a nominating convention? This was a disaster waiting to happen.
from Jon Ralston in the Reno Gazette-Journal. Ralston is considered to be the gold standard in Nevada Democratic political analysis. I quote at length:
There are no adults on the Sanders campaign — at least adults who have perspective.
The Sanders campaign (and this was orchestrated by Sanders national campaign staff) created the circus at the Nevada state convention over two delegates. Think about that. TWO DELEGATES when they’re behind by hundreds. Why?
And, for all their cries about “fairness,” the Sanders campaign was trying to reverse the will of the February 20 Nevada voters.
I’ve come to the conclusion that we have to start forgiving rather fighting over things. I don’t disagree with your take on things, but if we’re going to start unifying, we’re going to have to stop trying to score point against the other side and forgive them their trespasses in hopes that they will forgive ours. (I’m not religious, but I think the principle is a good one).
I am past tired of accomodating these sore losers — particularly now that it’s Sanders, himself, and his senior campaign staff questioning the legitimacy of the election results.
Sanders needs to fully comprehend that he lost and it wasn’t even close (Clinton has 3 million more votes, hundreds more delegates, more swing states won, more states won). Saying “polls indicate Sanders would do better against Trump” is a loser’s lament. Real voters trump polls every single time!
Now Sanders is deliberately misinforming his followers just to keep their donations flowing — apparently, unconcerned to the damage he’s inflicting on our prospects for keeping the Presidency Democratic. It’s time for Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren to warn Sanders if he doesn’t behave more like Clinton in 2008, he risks losing his Senate Committees.
In late May of 2008, the Clinton campaign was still arguing to get the Florida and Michigan delegates seated and the PUMAs were just heating up.
and let it begin with me.
Believe me I understand the anger. I spent a few hours reading on the Nevada Convention. The whole thing was pretty ugly. I was troubled by the Sanders people, less so by the people running the convention. I do think Bernie needs to try to rein his extremists in. But…
We’re at the point where attacking and criticizing only makes them dig in more. I’m not disagree with what you’re saying and think you’re right about how he’ll be reined in. (I wish I came up with it). They probably won’t need to threaten him, talking to him should be enough.
2008 was still nastier than this, though not by as wide a margin as I previously thought. But time is getting short. And “I am a better candidate than you” is qualitatively different than “You are a scheming fraud” or even “you suck.” There really isn’t anything that can be done to accommodate that: no platform concession, no cabinet appointment, no speaking slot. The rhetoric on the Sanders side has become “revolutionary” recently in truly the ugliest possible sense: devoid of reason, nuance, or acknowledgment of actual reality, yet strident and absolutist.
As an outsider who would like to see HRC president, I think things are uncomfortably close to the brink.
of grownups on both sides.
Weaver (as a pro) is doing what campaign managers do when their principal is subject to morality-play meltdowns: He becomes the voice of the candidate’s tantrums, thus insulating his client.
Don’t care at all what Weaver has to say, it’s how Bernie acts that matters.
And he’s been acting childishly.