is there any precedent for this declaration?

[JustinL]

When's the last time someone was declared the presumptive nominee prior to winning a majority of the pledged delegates, when there was still another serious candidate in the race?

[valerief]

1. It's just another version of a coup. nt

[liberal from boston]

12. Senator Sanders

Lawrence is questioning the journalistic integrity ---super delegates were included. Also questioned how it affects California vote & State Down Ticket.

[apcalc]

2. 2008

[TimPlo]

8. No 2008 Obama became it because

Clinton suspended her camping.

[BzaDem]

29. That is false. Clinton suspended her campaign 4 days AFTER they declared Obama the victor.

June 3rd, 2008: Barack Obama Clinches Nomination. Before Clinton conceded. Only with superdelegates.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Stalin, Putin, Saddam Hussein come to mind.

I'm sure there are other examples.

[bettyellen]

5. you forgot Pol Pot and Hitler. :sarcasm:

[Xipe Totec]

6. It's not an exhaustive menu, just a smörgåsbord nt

[tandem5]

4. 2008 and Clinton had the popular vote lead until nearly the end.

[TimPlo]

10. No Obama was not until Clinton dropped out.

If any media called him it before Clinton dropped out they where dishonest as they are now.

This about her speech on June 4th.
In a speech to supporters in New York City, Mrs. Clinton paid tribute to Mr. Obama, but she did not leave the race. In a speech more defiant than conciliatory, she again presented her case that she was the stronger candidate and argued that she had won the popular vote, a notion disputed by the Obama campaign.

“I want the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected,” Mrs. Clinton told supporters. But she paid homage to Mr. Obama’s accomplishments, saying, “It has been an honor to contest the primaries with him, just as it is an honor to call him my friend.”

She stayed in until her and Obama came to a understanding. Why is Sanders held to a different set of rules the Clinton? Is it because he is Jewish and not a Christian that people thinking he should act different that Clinton did in 2008?

[tandem5]

16. It was called on the 3rd. She conceded on the 7th.

Clinton now has not claimed victory only the media.

[Lord Magus]

20. Every outlet called in on June 3. Hillary didn't drop out until June 7. -nt-

[JustinL]

15. that's incorrect

Obama clinched the pledged delegates on May 20, when he won OR. He wasn't declared the presumptive nominee until June 3, the date of the final primaries.

[tandem5]

18. I don't know what "clinched the pledged delegates" means, but

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/5/29/1532358/-What-Does-It-Mean-to-Clinch-the-Nomination-When-Superdelegates-Are-Involved

[JustinL]

19. it means that's when he won a majority of the pledged delegates n/t

[HereSince1628]

7. Expecting things to follow precedence in this election cycle???

Really? REALLY?

The media are in SAVE THE OLIGARCHY mode!!!

Way around the bend from precedence.

[Lord Magus]

21. This IS following the established precedent. -nt-

[workinclasszero]

9. Yes..Bernie Sanders in 2008 called it for BHO

So did TYT....all on video, go look it up.

[TimPlo]

11. No Sanders endorsed Him.

In 2008 only one that could really call it for Obama was Clinton. Which she did 4 days after the last vote was cast. Then after several meetings and a speech where she said she was the stronger candidate in hope to sway SD voters, she dropped out after a meeting with Obama where many think she was given a pledge to be considered for a cabinet position.
So why is Sanders held to different rules in 20016 than Clinton was? Is it because he is a Jewish person and not a Christian?

[Lord Magus]

26. It's because he's losing by more than 3 times the margin that Hillary did against Obama. -nt-

[stevenleser]

13. Usually their opponents have the sense to drop out before this point. That's why this rarely happens

Cruz and Kasich on the Republican side, for instance, dropped out when it was clear they couldn't stop Trump from getting the requisite number.

It makes the folks who stay in a race to this point seem pretty silly.

[BootinUp]

23. Exactly. And it doesn't make sense to have a circular firing squad after

its obvious who is going to win and who can't win.

[seabeyond]

14. I heard they did the same with Trump. I do not know if it is factual. Nt

[MohRokTah]

17. Yeah, almost every primary since 1984, 2008 being the only exception. eom

[AzDar]

22. A cheap and disgusting tactic aimed at suppressing voter turnout..gonna bite 'em in the ass, I think

[Lord Magus]

24. It happened in 84, 88, 92, 96, 00, 04 & 12.

Maybe 96 & 12 don't count since those were elections with incumbents running unopposed, so the media basically didn't treat it like a primary at all. But in every other campaign over the last 32 years, somebody secured the nomination before the final votes were cast and before getting a majority of pledged delegates. Usually much earlier than this.

[JustinL]

30. but are any of those elections really comparable?

12: Obama was an incumbent president and there was no serious challenger.

04: Kerry became the presumptive nominee early because Edwards dropped out after Super Tuesday.

00: Gore became the presumptive nominee early because Bradley dropped out after Super Tuesday.

96: Clinton was an incumbent president and there was no serious challenger.

84: Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears that Mondale wasn't declared the presumptive nominee until June, after he had won a majority of the pledged delegates.

That leaves 88 and 92. They were before my time, and I haven't been able to find when exactly the presumptive nominee was declared, and what percentage of the total pledged delegates they had won at the time.

In 2008, of course, Obama wasn't declared the presumptive nominee until 2 weeks after he had won a majority of the pledged delegates.

[Renew Deal]

25. This is the latest in the process a primary has run where there was a decent sized lead.

So the opportunities were small. The race was much closer in 2008. Usually candidates in Bernie's position drop out months in advance. Just look at Cruz. It wasn't over, but it was over.

[RandySF]

27. 2008 for Obama

and it was closer between Obama and Clinton than it is between Clinton and Sanders.

[NanceGreggs]

28. Being almost 300 delegates ...

... and millions of votes behind, reasonable people have determined that Bernie is no longer "still another serious candidate in the race".