Very telling quote from Bernie Sanders this morning on MSNBC:

[George II]

"We are in this race to the convention".

To many observers that would be the first indication that there's doubt in the Sanders camp.

[Jarqui]

1. Doesn't seem like a definitive statement to me

If he'd won yesterday, then he'd still be "in this race to the convention".

Sounds like folks are reading something into it that may not be there.

[HassleCat]

2. Everybody always says that.

Even if Sanders does not win outright, he may collect enough delegates to force a brokered convention.

[still_one]

7. I agree with you

[George II]

8. Tough to have a brokered convention when there are only two candidates.

Brokered conventions generally happen when there isn't a majority after the first ballot.

[stevenleser]

48. Only if there are only two from the very beginning. Then a brokered convention isnt possible

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries,_2016#Process

There are 4,051 pledged (or "hard&quot delegates in the 2016 cycle. and 712 unpledged superdelegates totaling 4763 delegates. You need 2382 delegates to be nominated. Since there is an odd number there cant be an even split. If they split as close as possible, it will leave one candidate with 2381 and the other with 2382 and the nomination.

O'Malley received some delegates this time around, so it is theoretically possible for there to be a brokered convention, but Hillary and Bernie would have to split all remaining delegates almost exactly equally for it to happen. That would mean Sanders would have to win the pledged delegate count by Hillary's margin of the Superdelegates and then the Superdelegates would have to not switch when they always have if the pledged delegate count goes against them.

[George II]

49. True, but that's a super longshot chance of happening. The nomination will be decided.....

....during the primaries, and it will become very evident who our nominee will be very soon.

[stevenleser]

9. Not with all the super delegates on Hillary's side.

Even if she only comes out ahead 1 delegate in the pledged delegates, the super delegates will be more than enough to put her over the top.

[FarPoint]

56. Absolutely Correct!

If need be, there are other hands to play....

[djean111]

3. That's just wishful thinking on your part. Sorry! n/t

[FarPoint]

4. He, Mr Sanders , he knows he is falling....

He has hitched a ride on the Democratic Party bus bumper long enough.. Now the game stakes are elevated... Primaries afoot; the game is officially in play.

[Skwmom]

30. All he needs to do is go full blown with the truth. n/t

[dinkytron]

35. Keep dreaming. The math of his trajectory says it all. As does Hillary's. He has

not even peaked yet.

[HERVEPA]

51. Do you really not care if Bernie supporters vote for Hillary if she is the nominee.

Your trash talks sucks.

[Sanity Claws]

5. This race means the Democratic primaries

That is the context.
After the convention is an entirely new race with a different opponent.

[geek tragedy]

6. huh? that's when the primary race ends, the convention.

if you're suggesting that Bernie maintains an awareness that Clinton might be the nominee, not much of development

[hobbit709]

10. To many observers your post would be taurine metabolic byproducts.

[MoonRiver]

11. The money is going to start drying up.

Last edited Sun Feb 21, 2016, 12:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Students hoping for free stuff, like college education, which I btw agree with,only have so much money to donate, especially if they begin to see it is all for naught.

[Lochloosa]

17. "Students hoping for free stuff". Sean , is that you?

[MoonRiver]

19. Do you deny they want free tuition?

I sure would have when I was a student. And I agree that students, like my daughter, should not have to go into massive debt to get an education.

[JRLeft]

29. Hi Mitt!

[Lochloosa]

34. Absulutely not. As well as the parents that have to save their entire lives to TRY to cut down

the student debt.

What I have a problem with is the way you phrased it. I listen to Sean Hannity every day on the way home from work, and have heard that quote way to many times.

You make it sound like they want something for nothing and that is just not the case. Students want an education that will not put them in debt the rest of their lives.

I feel that anyone that can make the grades and go to class should have free tuition at any State College.

And I am willing to pay for that.

[MoonRiver]

37. I actually agree with Sanders, just don't think it is achievable.

We put two children through college, one a pricey private university, so believe me, I know how difficult this debt can be for students and families. We are lucky enough to have been able to absorb it, but far, far too many able students and their families cannot. It is simply not fair.

Hillary has a plan which reduces the debt load, and which I think is more likely to pass Congress.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/us/politics/hillary-clinton-to-offer-plan-on-paying-college-tuition-without-needing-loans.htm

[Lochloosa]

38. We can afford it. Our priorities are just wrong.

[MoonRiver]

40. Well, yes, but try telling that to our Repub controlled House and possibly Senate next year.

[Lochloosa]

43. No one said it would be easy. But without having the conversation, you can bet it will go nowhere.

[MoonRiver]

46. We will have the conversation!

[snowy owl]

52. As Reich said, if you want the status quo, vote Hillary. I guess that's what you want.

[MoonRiver]

53. No, she is NOT the status quo.

You should check out her positions on making college affordable. I discussed some of it above.

[snowy owl]

54. tell it to Reich

Besides, when did she start making all these plans? She is beginning to sound more like Bernie than Bernie. Do you want the original or a weak imitator? And how can you trust she's for real this time?

[MoonRiver]

57. I have no idea how old you are,

but I have been aware of Hillary's history of service to women, children, the poor and disadvantaged for 25 years. She's for real, and always has been.

[snowy owl]

58. Well, fine. I hope she keeps doing good deeds for women and kids.

But I want more. I want all kids to be out of poverty. We need to change our economic model for that one. She is all about Wall Street. Use your head. Help a few kids at a time or change the system and solve it for all of us? Which is the smarter?

[MoonRiver]

59. No, she is NOT about Wall Street.

Use your head. She has worked her entire life, as I previously mentioned, for the poor and disadvantaged.

[kenfrequed]

36. Thanks for reminding me.

I actually have only given about fifty bucks this year so far. Time to donate another twenty.

[Roy Ellefson]

50. free stuff

I am fucking sick of the free stuff nonsense on DU...damn it...it has to stop. We are Democrats not fucking Republicans. Stop with this goddamn nonsense. "Free stuff" is what Romney says...Free stuff is what Bush says...Free stuff is what FoxNews says...just fucking fucking stop it.!!!! Ban me if you want but any Democratic poster that uses right fucking wing lingo is in the goddamn wrong place. Fuck it!! By the way if it's ok for the "rude pundit" it should fucking ok for some goddamn poster on DU...so stop the fucking bullshit right wing memes.

[fredamae]

12. Aren't there still 47 States to go?

This attempted "discouragement" is funny-Obama lost NV by greater margins in 2008. Sanders closed a fairly Large gap in NV.

I see this as a glass half-full, not Any reason to be discouraged or to give up. It's time to dig in.
Anyone who believed either camp was going to take 100% of the primary's is delusional.
This is a real race-and a close one to boot, considering Clinton has fame MSM bias in her favor and name recognition that Bernie does not enjoy.
I'm supporting the candidate the Dem establishment, wall street et al Don't want and fight Against. "They're" fighting against our best interests - imo

[snowy owl]

55. too discouraged too easily

You're right! When I look at the older entrenched voters - all the safe casino workers who see and benefit from the wealth that comes to the casinos? He made some pretty good gains among a very built-for-Bill crowd.

[rufus dog]

13. I too am confused

Are you insinuating there is something nefariousness about staying in until the convention?

[NurseJackie]

33. My interpretation is that Bernie sees the writing on the wall but is making ...

... a final and defiant "battle-cry" to try and "rally-the-troops" in the face of prohibitive odds. It's doubtful that he'd be using words and phrases like that if he was certain of his own victory.

Even though Super Tuesday will be a turning point, it's not a mathematical "tipping-point"... that will come later. (But, realistically speaking, we'll know that Hillary is the nominee LONG before the convention.)


Go, Hillary! We love you!

[Sancho]

14. Things will get lots more expensive in Texas, Florida, and big market states.

That's when millions in a PAC plus the network of unions make a big difference. Endorsements with local politicians too.

It takes a village!

Bernie may be useful as a sparring partner, so I hope there are more debates, but on March 1 the mathematics will take over.

[Iliyah]

20. BS campaign has got a secret admire by the tune of G...O...P

[Sancho]

28. The GOP knows how to get money into campaigns in FL

Rep. Buchanan’s claim he knew nothing about thousands of dollars in illegal contributions propping up his campaign is laughable — except to federal investigators.

Since 2010, 11 individuals and corporations tied to Rep. Buchanan have been fined for illegal conduit contributions to his campaign. One of Rep. Buchanan’s former business partners said the congressman pressured him to sign a false affidavit to cover up his role in the scheme. Rep. Buchanan also lied on his financial disclosure forms for years.

http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/mostcorrupt/entry/vern-buchanan

It's quite difficult to determine if any GOP donors to Bernie were simply an attempt to undermine Hillary.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

32. It certainly will take a village full of SuperPACs for Hillary to match him once her

'small donor' supporters cap out, while Bernie is still able to raise from his right up until he's won.

[ejbr]

15. I wonder if the Hillary campaign

took it as doubt. Or maybe he was merely answering a question. It's hard to tell without context.

[Android3.14]

16. Why, because four months ago it was so obvious he would win? (sarcasm)

I so dislike obtuse posts.

[jham123]

25. Well stated

TY

[Ellipsis]

18. I love it when people claim the conscious thoughts of others ...

It's those kind of statements like the "American people believe.." That when you like look at it in reality is trying to beat down an underlying paradoxial truth.

Reince Penus uses that strategy quite often. It doesn't work very well for him.

I'll add... I sure hope he has doubt. It only humanizes.

[BainsBane]

21. Well, their spending patterns might make

That difficult. The campaign seems to assume a constant string of revenue in keeping with recent fundraising, which may not materialize if he becomes mathematically unviable. Then There is already an FEC inquiry into excessive contributions exceeding legal limits.

[reformist2]

22. Have you forgotten how many states Obama lost to Hillary in 2008????

Bernie knows this is a marathon, not a sprint.

[mythology]

23. I think you're reading too much into that

[artyteacher]

26. he's already pretty much finished eom

[Bleacher Creature]

27. His long term viability in this primary is in question.

He knows very well how the narrative will sound in a week (much less on the day after Super Tuesday).

When someone makes a statement like that, the sole purpose is to calm their supporters' nerves.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

31. Lol.

No, it mean he's going all the way. Then he starts the next race, the General.

[SecularMotion]

39. Sounds like an exit strategy

[MohRokTah]

41. Yep, EVERY candidate who is about to lose says that,

Jeb. essentially said the same thing.

[workinclasszero]

42. Bernie admits there's a crack in the foundation

Nevada was the beginning of the end.

[GreydeeThos]

44. Bernie will be on the primary ballots until the convention

The Bernie Sanders campaign will be strapped for cash at the end of Super Tuesday.

Bernie will suspend active campaigning at the end of the Florida Primary.

Bernie will make a rousing speech to the convention, but will fail to secure the Vice Presidential position.

The big media networks will thank Bernie for keeping people interested in the Primaries so they could sell more advertisements.

[Gothmog]

45. I am thinking about trying to be a delegate to Philadelphia

[William769]

47. Kick & recommended.