Is it time for Plan B?

[Puzzledtraveller]

For Sanders supporters such as myself the "B" in Plan-B is clearly Bernie Sanders and as such we only need to keep doing what we are doing.

For the establishment faithful for which all hopes and thoughts of inevitability were placed in Hillary Clinton I am sensing trouble. My own congressperson John Yarmuth echoed these concerns and whether that goes all the way to the White house hand-wringing no doubt has begun. Dismiss it if you like, but if it comes down to selecting a Plan-B, will the establishment get behind Bernie, or will they head straight for Biden, pleading for him to enter the race?

[Hortensis]

1. Bernie has virtually no money or endorsements. HIS plan is to nudge HRC left and then support her.

Or, to put it in a longer form, to ENABLE her to move left and support her. So far I'm very pleased with how he's doing.

[AppalachianLeftist]

4. No, this is not his plan at all.

His plan is to win.

He knows as well as everyone else that HRC is too beholden to too many individuals and groups that make America suck to move even a centimeter more to the left.

He's just too kind to say it; I'm not.

[Hortensis]

23. Initially the idea was to push her and the party left. Now it's to push longer and harder.

I'd vote for President Sanders in the general, but he knows he wouldn't win.

[Garrett78]

28. Stop playing armchair pscyhologist.

It's probably best that nobody assume they know whether or not Sanders believes (or has ever believed) he's viable. All we know, without being inside his head, is that he's running.

[Hortensis]

36. Not even playing clairvoyant. That's what his friends and colleagues said early on.

[Garrett78]

39. Link?

Do you have a link?

[daleanime]

5. Disagree....

big time. Bernie's plan is to start addressing the problems in front of us. I don't think he's interested in building a following just to hand it over to the corporate power structure that he's trying to change.

[Cleita]

8. He has never said this is his plan.

OTOH he has said in the past, before he announced his run, that if he did run he was in it to win. He's has never changed that position.

[cali]

11. you clearly know jack about him.

I do. He's my Senator. He's running to win.

[whatchamacallit]

12. I think that's your plan

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. I think he's in it to win it

There are ways to get exposure that don't cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Voters from both parties are fed up with money's influence in politics. I support Bernie and right now, his campaign has energy and momentum that's just not happening for HRC.

It may be her plan that she won't start campaigning hard until closer to the primaries in hopes that Bernie will use up all his money. But Bernie is getting an awful lot of free press just by making appearances and having thousands show up when 3 months ago we probably thought he'd be speaking to hundreds. He's not shying away from the S word but Hilary still has to deal with this damn e-mail thing and then Benghazi (again).

With Trump still leading the GOP polls and Bernie doing better than even his supporters expected, this is going to be an election for the history books. All bets are off if you ask me.

[TBF]

15. That may be Hillary's plan -

but it sure isn't the plan of his supporters. We want an alternative to Hillary. If the plan is "sheepdog every one in" you may have a big surprise on election day. We're really not going to go for a bait and switch. I don't care if the switch is Clinton, Biden, or Gore.

[azmom]

33. Nope. Bernie all the way.

[Michigan-Arizona]

47. My family feel's the same way!!!!! n/t

[Cherry Creek Native]

18. SuperPACK!

Bernie is running with a SuperPACK!

And he'll be outraising Clinton because Clinton's donors are probably maxed out and depending on the small donations to keep her sputtering campaign going.

[John Poet]

2. The establsihment being the establishment,

and being the Democratic party,
I'm pretty sure some of them will be going to Biden.

How many, that's the question.

[xynthee]

3. They'll go for Biden, I think

I can't imagine the Democratic machine throwing its support behind Bernie for Prez.

[xynthee]

45. I should add: I think they'll recruit someone else

It depends on when (if) it happens.

[tech3149]

6. Having listened to Sanders for years

I am pretty sure he never expected full throated support from party "leadership". Some of the early digs and damning with faint praise are a good example of what to expect. Add to that, the lack of any strong support stated in public.
I think the primary thinking is that those of us supporting him have to exert enough influence for the party to realize they have no choice but to join us or lose big.

[Hortensis]

24. Yes, and as a HRC supporter I wish us Sanders supporters much success in stirring up the left.

[tech3149]

35. Absolutely! And it must go beyond one elected office.

I think a truly positive sign is that all of Sanders appearances without much media coverage were, if not organized by local supporters, were definitely promoted that way, attendance has been impressive.
I haven't heard any substantive feedback on how many of the attendees have formed networks or volunteered their services but my impression is that could represent a serious ground game.
I agree with others that Obama made a serious mistake by not morphing his electoral support into a driving force in remaking the party as it was in the 50's.
That's not just the nostalgia of being an old fart, but the last time I can remember the party truly representing the working class and an equitable economy.

[still_one]

7. Biden is NOT running. This is the media trying to stir up things. It is not based on any facts. In

fact they are making up the talking points for a "pinch hitter" to come int for Hillary. Isn't going to happen.

Second, and most importantly is exactly what you are trying to say. Bernie and O'Malley ARE the alternate choices, and if Hillary stepped out of the race, which won't happen, it is just a hypothetical, Bernie or O'Malley would be the ones that would assume the lead.

As it stands right now the race for the Democratic nomination has three candidates, I have excluded Chaffee and Webb. After a couple of debates, and the first few primaries we should have a better sense who will be the front runner.

[Cherry Creek Native]

19. O'Malley isn't going anywhere

His trends are flat. Completely flat, and I know why - he's got L&O problems in regards to Baltimore, even now that he couldn't fix as a mayor or as a governor.

I like him, and would back him as a second after Bernie. I just don't know enough about him to make an informed decision - I know a lot about Bernie, and am very confident that he will win the primary and the GE. He's getting the excitement and motivation factor going and is constantly jampacked full of supporters. Next week is his swing through South Carolina, and I expect him to do extremely well there.

[still_one]

25. I understand, however, until the first several debates I am going to not assume anything

[Cherry Creek Native]

27. I back your play..

Vote whoever your heart desires. I know who I am going with, and will watch the Democratic debates to watch Clinton do very poorly vs Bernie.

Wasserman-Schutz needs to add five more - two by next month and additional debate October, and 2 more in November.

[leftofcool]

9. They will go for either Biden or O'Malley

[Garrett78]

10. O'Malley hasn't gained any traction.

I can see Biden entering the race and possibly becoming the frontrunner. As friendly as the electoral map may look, Clinton's "unfavorable" score has to worry the party establishment.

[ericson00]

21. no one cares about "unfavorable" except clown pundits:

notice how Hillary beats all of the GOP candidates, or Trump's unfavorability ratings don't stop him from beating all the GOP candidates either?? Does anyone not see this??

[Garrett78]

22. Too early.

It's too early for these little match-up polls to mean much. Right now, the GOP is a circus and the candidates are spending time battling one another for the nomination. Trump won't be the nominee. Whoever ends up being the nominee (Walker or Bush or Rubio or Kasich) will then focus all of their attention on the Democratic nominee.

Clinton is extremely polarizing, and I disagree that her "unfavorable" score is unimportant. She will drive the opposition to the polls on election day. The electoral map certainly looks favorable for the Democratic nominee, but Clinton might really put that to the test.

But Sanders won't be the nominee, and the party establishment wouldn't want him to be anyway. So, I can see Biden entering the race.

[Romulox]

13. Biden is warming up in the bull pen. nt

[Puzzledtraveller]

17. He was sounding pretty tough at a recent event

honoring marines killed in Chatanooga.

[monmouth4]

16. Biden is a gaffe machine, nice man and all but no, no, no...n/t

[Garrett78]

20. There is that.

Biden does seem to have a serious case of foot-in-mouth disease. But I'm sure the Democratic Party establishment is worried by Clinton's high "unfavorable" score. With O'Malley et al. not gaining any traction, there may be pressure put on Biden. Or some other mainstream, big name Democrat, though I have no clue who that would be.

It's probably not too late to enter the race, what with the Iowa caucus still 5 months away, but we're probably approaching the now or never stage.

[TwilightGardener]

26. I am not interested in Biden. I wish Warren would reconsider.

Other than that, I am fine with Sanders or O'Malley.

[Puzzledtraveller]

34. It does make me wonder

If Warren isn't secretly seconding guessing her decision to not run. I appreciate whats at stake here though. Too quick to turn tail and flee from Hillary , whoever it may be when so much remains uncertain could backfire znd gain the ire of people who have the power to make you pay for your lack of faith. I do wish Warren would reconsider also.

[Garrett78]

37. Warren

I wish Warren would run. Although she has pretty much the same views as Sanders, I see her as being more electable.

[LettuceSea]

40. If they both agree, Biden/Warren?

Joe serves 4 years, then Warren for president in 2020.

It would suck to lose Warren in the Senate, but that's a pretty safe seat. The VP position could help improve her mainstream visibility, and diversify her political resume.

[TwilightGardener]

42. That's about the only way I'd be interested in Biden, frankly.

Welcome to DU!

[PoliticAverse]

29. The establishment is not going to get behind Sanders in place of another mainstream candidate. n/t

[LettuceSea]

30. I appreciate how Joe isn't running unless it's absolutely necessary

It's the correct way to go about it in this messy, emotionally charged situation.

[mmonk]

31. Dare you ask the question?

Bernie is not fond of Sugar Daddies.

[Puzzledtraveller]

41. Indeed

It is why I stand with Bernie. I just like thinking of hypothetical situations. So you have to wonder if HC ends up out of the running, let's just pretend that happens, and Bernie is still drawing huge crowds, polling well, would the establishment Dems be so loathe to support him ( regardless whether they think he can win in the GE or not) and force someone who they know will continue their agenda to enter the race? Bernie can't be bought, or so I hope, but plenty others can. I think it is going to get very interesting should HC email woes turn out to be gravely serious.

[Hortensis]

32. HRC's dip is normal and expected for this stage. Biden is wishful thinking--he's a very weak

performer and always has been. In spite of being a sitting VP and having been in politics for decades, he just does not do well in national elections, even considering only the left. Check his history. He's a nice guy, even as courteous and well liked as one might hope in a very turbulent era, but that has never been nearly enough to get him near the Oval Office.

I'll add that he was disastrously weak, and irresponsible, when he failed possibly the weightiest responsibility of his career -- chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Clarence Thomas hearings. He is on record as expressing his relief afterward that he was able to handle Clarence's charge of racism without too much damage to HIMSELF. I.e., by folding.

[leftyladyfrommo]

38. I just don't think Biden can swing it.

Bernie may be our best hope now.

[NYCButterfinger]

43. Yes, it may be time for Plan B

If Hillary implodes, Biden, Heinrich, Warren, Klobuchar, Vilsack may be the choice. Hillary Clinton is losing to Rubio in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Iowa. Her unfavorable are up, and she is losing to Donald Trump in Florida. If this continues in September/October, then you may see these other choices run.

[Puzzledtraveller]

44. It's like the elephant in the room

or a family member with a terminal illness and no ones is talking about it yet you know it's on everyone's mind. All talk about inevitability is gone and now you wonder how many people are just sailing on a river in Egypt at this point. Maybe I'm too alarmist, I like to be prepared. That' how I am in my own life so I like to anticipate any surprises.

[musiclawyer]

46. No you are not alarmist

The HRC machine is broken. She will never be POTUS even if she wins the nomination. The Ohio Governor can beat her. Maybe others.

Bernie has the energy , likability, and trustworthiness , and no baggage to lock up most independents and even many Republican voters. If he and O'Malley worked together, they could knock HRC out of the race in a month. If Bernie announced that his VP would be Warren tomorrow, then it would be over the day after.

[Timmy5835]

48. You guys do realize....

Without at least 37% of the Latino vote, the Republicans have NO chance of winning the White House. Do you see
any scenario where that could happen?

[Puzzledtraveller]

49. No at all.