Tick Tock, Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders’ window of relevancy is closing rapidly. The one thing Bernie Sanders had going for him was his self-proclaimed ability to bring new voters / younger voters to the table. We have learned now that we are deep into the primaries, that he has failed miserably to do this. Voter turnout in this all-important demographic is down, while overall turnout is up. Those who are showing up at the polls have made it clear – they do not want Bernie Sanders and his movement – they want traditional democratic politics.
Unlike in 2016, when Bernie was able to ride his impressive showing to holding the party hostage during the development of the platform, Bernie doesn’t have that clout this time. However, he can still play an important role if he backs out gracefully and goes all in with Biden sooner rather than later.
If Sanders gives in to his ego and digs in even when there is every indication that he cannot win even a plurality of the delegates, he will lose all credibility. Despite his ability to milk his small contingency of supporters to keep donating to his campaign, the national party will no longer feel beholden to him if he continues to divide rather than help put this thing away for the party.
Bernie has a small window of opportunity to dictate how he joins the Biden campaign. If he waits until he’s blown out in Florida, that window will shut firmly and he’ll be a pathetic side show.
