Why Hillary Clinton isn't pushing Bernie Sanders to exit race

[oberliner]

Hillary Clinton is itching to take on Donald Trump in a one-on-one contest for the White House -- but she isn't pushing Bernie Sanders off the stage yet.

Democrats close to Clinton and the man who could become a top surrogate -- President Barack Obama -- insist they won't pressure the Vermont senator to leave. That reluctance is based on fear inside the Democratic establishment that such a move would make it more difficult to unite the party later this year.

Clinton needs the excited supporters that have rallied around Sanders and hopes treating the senator's campaign respectfully will make them more likely to back her against Trump. Clinton has already started to make overtures to Sanders' supporters - pledging to support them even if they don't support her - and campaign aides have said those will continue in the coming weeks.

Clinton on Wednesday told CNN's Anderson Cooper said she isn't pushing Sanders to hurry up.

"I'm not calling myself that (the presumptive nominee), Clinton said. "I know there are some contests ahead and I respect Sen. Sanders and whatever choices he's making. And I have a lot of empathy about this, Anderson. You know, I ran to the very end in 2008."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/05/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-exit-race/

[Sancho]

1. Bernie is a good sparing partner - and keeps the campaign on TV

It doesn't hurt Hillary to make stops and speeches in remaining states. You already see Bernie changing his language from attacking Hillary to Trump.

If Bernie goes to far, it will prevent him from having influence at the convention. He has laid off staff and the donations are drying up, so he knows it's silly to think he can win.

Hillary has no reason to ask for Bernie to drop out. Frankly, Bernie was perfect opposition in this primary. He caused excitement and had no real chance to win from day one. Letting him run as a Democrat may have been a good move for the DNC as it turns out.

[fun n serious]

2. I agree. nt

[oberliner]

9. Yes, indeed

I think it has been net positive especially when contrasted with the Republicans.

[CorkySt.Clair]

23. Yes, Bernie is useful at this stage of the race

Which is why I don't have an issue with him staying in.

[artislife]

28. The fact that the convention won't be a 90 to 10 ratio

alone will give Progressives a voice. She better have Jedi skills of compromise if she is to pull off getting the party to unite.

We will be there as certified Delegates...so your reasoning is missing this one important fact.

[Sancho]

31. I'm old enough to remember 1968, and Bernie's crowd isn't going to amount to real trouble...

and that's one reason the super delegate system was put in place. Hillary will be the nominee on first vote if Bernie doesn't step down before then. It doesn't matter if Bernie yells at everyone again - and demands free tuition or something. There are lots of platform planks forgotten on the floors of political conventions! If Blemmings make a fuss, they will pay the price for years and Bernie will be appointed ambassador to Denmark.

Hillary wins on all metrics: delegates, popular vote, party endorsements, union endorsements, organization, and money raised.

She doesn't need to compromise, and if Bernie doesn't play nice he will be squashed like a bug. Not by Hillary, but by millions of Democrats and the majority of delegates.

The GOP has self-destructed by nominating Trump - and most of us are looking forward to the first woman President.

[Betty Karlson]

35. ^pretty much this ^

Astounded to see so many Clinton supporters still think the 20th century has yet to end.

[IdaBriggs]

3. "hopes treating the campaign respectfully ---" ROFLMAO!!!

Guess her supporters here at DU didn't get THAT particular memo, but "Camp Weathervane" has new directions now, and from the lips of the candidate herself!!!

A network television special explaining "Server Problems" to the country, and orders to be respectful in the coming weeks -- this is going to be a fun day!

[Adrahil]

5. Yeah, 'cause the Sandernistas have been Soooo respectful.....

Pull the other one.

[IdaBriggs]

8. Our guy keeps trying to talk issues --

he is pretty cool. Yours is being investigated by the FBI. Are you going to watch the NBC special interview with the hacker who read the classified national security stuff?

Poor Hillary - she didn't understand how the internets work!

[Adrahil]

22. "issues"....

He started out that way I guess. He didn;t stick to it though.

Yeah, Guccifer. The guy who says he found evidence of Jewish and Illuminati domination. Sounds very reliable!

[Lizzie Poppet]

18. "They did it, too!"

[Adrahil]

21. I was thinking more like "pot calling the kettle black"

There has been plenty of mud-slinging around here, form all sides. Neither side really has a moral high horse.

[Lizzie Poppet]

25. That's perfectly fair.

A lot of nastiness on both sides, and I've been guilty of plenty of it, myself. Not our proudest moment here...

[oberliner]

10. She herself has been pretty respectful

There have been a few snippy comments here and there from both sides, but for the most part, I think they have treated one other respectfully.

Hillary and Bernie supporters, on the other hand, are another story

[IdaBriggs]

20. I actually agree with this, although the last debate was a bit annoying.

But to be fair, I think they were both getting a little sick of each other, and a little "political theater" is good for ratings.

Supporters, on the other hand -- yup, you nailed that one!

[That Guy 888]

4. Interesting edit of the hill's version of the story.

"I have a lot of empathy about this. I ran to the very end in 2008, and I won nine of the last 12 contests, people forget that," Clinton said during a Wednesday interview on CNN.

"But I couldn't close the gap in pledged delegates. And the gap between me and Sen. Sanders is far wider than it was between me and Sen. Obama."

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/278718-clinton-i-have-a-lot-of-empathy-for-sanders

That second sentence show that Clinton just can't help herself. She really hates it when Dems don't go along with her plans.

[auntpurl]

6. Or...she likes facts?

[all american girl]

16. Thank you auntpurl

Some of the Bernie supporters just can't help themselves.

[That Guy 888]

38. Niether apparently can some Clinton supporters. n/t

[That Guy 888]

33. What message is she trying to convey? It seems like she's trying to build bridges...

but the sentence I "bolded" undermines that message. It says "Why should I even have to do this?".

[randome]

7. That second sentence is also true.

That's what a candidate does: promote herself.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

[oberliner]

11. That's a reasonable point

Bernie would make the same point in her situation, as would any candidate.

[That Guy 888]

34. Does it help "build bridges" and unify the party?

If that's what she was trying to do, it undermines her message.

[That Guy 888]

39. It undermines the "bridge" that she's trying to build. I assume she's attempting to unify the party.

So, no, I disagree. If any candidate were trying to make a conciliatory gesture in an attempt to unify the party and look to the general election, that particular thought might be kept in their head.

[leftynyc]

12. No editing and no bullshit

The day she suspended then Sen Obama had 1661 pledged delegates and she had 1592. Bernie (and his supporters) can only wish it were that close. Not all of us are ignorant of history.

[bahrbearian]

13. She can't help herself, she does it every time. She likes to run her mouth more than needed.

[LuvLoogie]

14. Assertive, intelligent woman with much to say, because

she knows the issues in depth, is told to shut up.

[bahrbearian]

15. Just like the debates?

[all american girl]

17. You know, it's said quite a bit around here. I think you are on to something.

[That Guy 888]

36. Who told her to shut up?

This is really weird. Who are you saying is sexist, bahrbearian, me or the Hill?

The portion of the Hill article I "bolded" undermines the attempt at party unity that the rest of her statement implies. It is sad when any criticism of Clinton is reduced to sexism, racism, wanting a unicorn/pony or right-wing anti-communist blather.

[Lizzie Poppet]

19. And then walk it back when she gets called on her bullshit.

Over and over and fucking over again...

[ViseGrip]

24. Hillary has already shown disrespect to Sanders and his supporters, so now she worries.

She wants to be respectful? She passed that period and chose something else. She's not saying anything because she stayed in too, while running a very racist campaign that I do remember.

[notadmblnd]

26. She said she stayed in til June- ya know? Cause Bobby Kennedy was assinated in June.

[eastwestdem]

27. I missed it...when was she disrepectful to Sanders and his supporters, other than on the issues?

You mean by disagreeing with him in the last debate?

[Betty Karlson]

37. Too little too late from Mrs Status Quo, if you ask me. eom

[Logical]

29. She is smarter than her whiney supporters. Nt

[ljm2002]

30. "You know, I ran to the very end in 2008."

Good for her for acknowledging this. Too bad her supporters on DU can't bring themselves to acknowledge this very salient fact.