What's more important for Sanders: contesting the convention or a prime time speaking spot?

[geek tragedy]

Sanders can't be actively running against Hillary Clinton and also get a major prime time address at the convention to campaign against her.

Having won the primary voting, Clinton will not only be the presumptive nominee (endorsed by President Obama by that point), but will be in charge of the convention schedule. Her supporters, being a majority of all convention delegates and all governing bodies of the party and the convention, are not going to give her political opponent a platform in prime time to try to hurt her politically.

The entire purpose of the convention will be to help her defeat Donald Trump. Because, she won the voting.

So, if Sanders wants a prime time speaking slot (or any slot, in all likelihood), he'll have to abandon the pretext that he can persuade superdelegates to overrule the voters, and to publicly show that he's all-in to helping Clinton defeat Trump.

There is clear precedent for what happens when a candidate is actively contesting the nomination. In 1992 Jerry Brown refused to concede before the convention. He was therefore not given a primetime speaking gig before the nomination vote (neither did Bill Clinton). Instead, he was able to give remarks while seconding his own nomination. (thanks to Recursion for pointing this out)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Democratic_National_Convention#Jerry_Brown


But, it's his choice to make. He has to consider his options, understanding he won't get everything he wants.

So, what should he do?

2 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	It's more important for Sanders to get a prime time address to speak about his values to a national audience
	2 (100%)
	It's more important for Sanders to get every last second to try to flip 500+ superdelegates
	0 (0%)
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[Recursion]

1. Brown didn't get a prime time spot in '92 because he was still campaigning to the end

He got an address when he seconded his own nomination, but that was it.

[geek tragedy]

2. Ah, good catch. I'll supplement the post with a hat tip to you. nt

[beachbum bob]

3. tough one as sanders never turns down the opportunity of a microphone

[BeyondGeography]

4. Bernie expects both because

meaningless head-to-head polls.

[geek tragedy]

5. he won't get both. if he wanted both he should have won nt