Tad Devine: No Contested Convention Unless PD Gap Significantly Closes

[firebrand80]

This seems like a reasonable position, let's see if the message stays consistent. I'm still not certian there isn't some daylight between Devine and Weaver on this issue.

In an interview with me today, top Sanders adviser Tad Devine shed a bit more light on this question: He conceded that if Sanders does not “significantly” close the current pledged delegate gap with Clinton, it will be borderline “impossible” to persuade super-delegates to switch from Clinton to Sanders.

“I think it’s going to be very, very difficult for us to persuade large numbers of super delegates to move if we don’t significantly make progress in the pledged delegate count,” Devine told me.

“We believe we have a shot at winning if we make great progress between now and then,” Devine also said. “We concede that if we don’t make that progress, then the task of moving all these super delegates is practically impossible.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/05/03/a-top-adviser-to-bernie-sanders-makes-a-key-concession-about-the-race/

[Buzz Clik]

1. The gap is going to close, but not to zero, maybe by less than 100 delegates.

Devine just keeps milking this.

[firebrand80]

2. That's the question

What does "significantly" mean?

I think it ultimately comes down to whether there is (a) a sense of momentum on his side, (b) serious questions about Hillary's electability, and (c) an apetite in the party for a floor fight. I don't think any of these things will be true.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. Yes, it would take all three

The appetite would be seriously lacking. The only thing that could change variable c) (appetite) would be great concern over variable b) (Hillary) - but that potential concern won't ever be looked at seriously unless a) (momentum) is surging toward Sanders at the end. I agree it is unlikely to play out that way - but not completely out of the question.

[fun n serious]

3. Tad Devine suggested Bernie drop out but Weaver and possibly Jane

have other ideas.

[firebrand80]

4. Source? nt

[fun n serious]

6. It's just MY take on the situation.. sorry nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. If Hillary wasn't able to get the nomination in 2008

by getting the Superdelegates to put her over the top under more favorable circumstances, they're not going to do it for Bernie this year even if the gap closes somewhat.

[uponit7771]

7. Team Used Car (Devine Weaver) are the complete half time show, they don't even communicate among

... themselves

[ViseGrip]

8. I think Tad is protecting his own future, as in Bernie is on his own making these decisions.

That is disloyal, for someone taking the salary that he does. If he feels it is conflicting with his future, (he's so important) he should step down.
I say this because now HE is in conflict with the campaign, all were told Bernie would go to the convention. Bernie is in the middle of a money bomb, to finance any of it, and Tad is now disrupting it.

Sometimes it gets to this point, where people don't agree. If you want to go out and speak in conflict, which brings harm, then it's time to go.
Maybe Bernie should tell him, "you're fired".

[Nonhlanhla]

10. Sounds like Devine is signaling a slow retreat

He seems to be the more sane one in that team. He knows damn well that the idea that SD's will vote for Bernie based on some nebulous idea that he would run more strongly against Trump, when Hillary has won the majority of pledged delegates, is absolutely silly. (Especially given the fact that GE polls this far out are not very accurate. And especially given the fact that the optics of taking the nomination out of the hands of the WOMAN who had won to give it to a MAN will be some really bad optics.