How many Democrats will stay home if Sanders wins the nomination?

[olegramps]

sIs it possible that Sanders could be the worse choice of the candidates for Democrats? How will his policies on tariffs, trade treaties that are aligned wth Trump's affect the voters along with Medicare for All?

[LongtimeAZDem]

1. Real Democrats? None

In my case, it would be a vote against Trump rather than a vote for Sanders, but I would do it without hesitation.

We'd lose, though.

[Squinch]

2. +1

[SCantiGOP]

6. +2

[olegramps]

5. Respecfully, do Democrats approve of Trump's trade policies and tariffs?

[MontanaMama]

41. We will absolutely lose

if Sanders is the nominee. Saying this doesn't make me a Bernie hater so do not come at me with that. I am as liberal as they come AND I believe in my gut that in order to win, we have to win back the centrist Obama voters that we lost in 2016 that live in Florida, Michigan, PA and Wisconsin. Bernie can't do that. I want a revolution as badly as a lot of you here on DU...holy shit I spent almost $20K in health insurance premiums last year...BUT, I want the MF beat more than I want a revolution.

[Mad cow]

85. Michigan and Wisconsin

Interesting take on Michigan and Wisconsin 2016. Bernie actually won both of those primaries in 2016 and then Trump went on to win both states. I don't think the take-away is that a centrist is what would excite voters there.

[LongtimeAZDem]

92. That was three years of Trump ago

[MontanaMama]

110. Listen to the first 15 minutes of this

and get back to me: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017566684

Rick Wilson may be a repuke but he knows what he is talking about when it comes to winning in the battleground states. This interview was really interesting and informative. I didn't like some of what Wilson has to say about Democrats but doesn't make his arguments untrue. Safe to say if we don't win this presidential election. We're done. Sanders is an 80 year old socialist. He won't get the labor vote and he will not win in the general in the rust belt. He will never win Florida.

[Mad cow]

120. Rick Wilson?

I find Rick Wilson entertaining of late, but that's about it. I'll pass on giving any weight to his political punditry. My original comment was in response to the presumption as fact that the rust belt needs a centrist. As a rust belter, I disagree. The only empirical evidence we have is the 2016 primaries, where Michigan and Wisconsin both bucked more centrist options. So, I think it is a leap to state unequivically that we need a centrist. This is why we have primaries; the preferences of these states will be made known either way.

[MontanaMama]

122. To each their own but know that Wilson isn't an ordinary pundit.

He was instrumental in building the republican machine that decimated democratic majorities in the local, state and national level over the past two decades. He is telling us what he and others did that gave the repukes the house and the senate under Obama and what led to our current WH abomination. You’re correct, we have primaries to decide what Democrats want in their nominee. Time will tell. For now, we should listen to the people whose points of view may not be pleasing to us but might be truthful.

[Mad cow]

123. My point is...

That all punditry is conjecture at this point. We don't have a single primary result yet. It's not about who I should or shouldn't listen to; it's about the fact that all commentary is largely subjective at this point and should be taken with a large grain of salt.

[Progress_Dem]

127. We will absolutely win

if Sanders is the nominee.

Sanders can win in Pa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. He also will do well in Florida.

[ehrnst]

166. But a candidate has to win a primary in order to be the nominee.

Sanders can win in Pa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. He also will do well in Florida.

What data do you have to support your predictions? He has historically done worse in primaries than caucuses, and IA was a tie this year.

He didn't get the nomination the last time he won IA.

[ehrnst]

171. Like I said, after the primaries, the GOP will open fire

instead of supporting him.

The talking point that there is no oppo on him that the GOP will deploy should he actually win just isn't true. In fact, it might be a Republican talking point... along with the one about him being targeted by Pelosi...

That is not taken into account in these polls.

There's just too much evidence to ignore that he is the chosen candidate of the GOP, and possibly Russia again.

Sanders supporters have weaponized Facebook to spread angry memes about his Democratic rivals

The hectic pace of memes spreading among Sanders supporters made some researchers suspect widespread use of automation tools and, possibly, a foreign-influence operation. Conspiratorial themes pushed in 2016 by Russian operatives, including claims about corruption in the Democratic Party, have reemerged with a fury.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/01/24/facebook-is-inflaming-divides-tearing-democratic-party/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/us/politics/trump-sanders-bloomberg-2020.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/17/indictment-russians-also-tried-help-bernie-sanders-jill-stein-presidential-campaigns/348051002/

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/4/20/18508880/karl-rove-bernie-sanders-could-beat-donald-trump-in-2020

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/07/bernie-sanders-republican-senate-1307296

https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/20/bernie-sanders-gets-some-outside-help-he-didnt-ask-for/


And there's this, which hasn't been resolved yet:

https://www.commoncause.org/press-release/common-cause-files-complaint-against-pro-bernie-sanders-group-our-revolution-for-violating-soft-money-ban/

[PatSeg]

173. Well, that one didn't last long!

Was just going to answer the comment, but then it vanished!

That said, I have to agree with much of what you said.

[Butterflylady]

155. PA is a no go in the GE for Sanders and .Mayor Pete.

The repugs will hang the socialist around his neck and have Americans believing that we're all going to be communists. They can do it just like they went after Dukakis. As Gov Dukakis commuted a convicted murderer and that was all it took for Lee Atwater to convince everybody that he was going to commute other murderers and we'll be murdered. Repugs are desperate to keep lard butt in office they will stop at nothing to keep him there. It will be brutal.

[olegramps]

159. Many can not fathom just how dirty the Republicans can get. They have hundreds of Atwaters.

[Zolorp]

62. Lots of long time Dems are tweeting the "#NeverBernie" hashtag

It's eerily similar to the Republicans who went #NeverTrump in 2016, only in much bigger numbers because nearly all Republicans always fall in line.

So far no real big name Dems that I have seen, though.

[LongtimeAZDem]

68. I find myself paraphrasing Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics:

The First Law: A Democrat will never vote for a Republican, or through inaction, allow a Republican to be elected

[octoberlib]

75. Bravenak started the NeverBernie hashtag, lol.

[Zolorp]

76. I don't know who that is.

[octoberlib]

80. She used to post on here a lot. Writes for Wonkette now.

[calimary]

81. She was an outspoken DUer who was, to be honest,

refreshing, gutsy, and wonderful. Controversial too, as people like that can sometimes wind up becoming.

[Autumn]

84. She's a banned antisemitic troll who pretended to support a candidate but really didn't and is

now on twitter offering to do the same there as she did here only now for weed.

Link to tweet

[JudyM]

95. Didn't know she was antisemitic

though her posts often seemed to have an angry, hateful flavor.

[Autumn]

115. She joined another site and was banned for an antisemitic screed she wrote.

She hasn't changed a bit.

[SMC22307]

145. Did we ever find out who mailed the threatening letters?

Oh, dear, I better watch it. Her cousin may come beat me up.

Ah, good times.

[Cha]

104. Bravenak is Awesome.. she didn't like BS, though, so

some try to smear her.

[William769]

130. Those who lived regretted it.

[Cha]

132. Aloha, William!

Bill!

[SMC22307]

146. LOL She's laughed at, not feared.

Trust me on that. A loudmouth with a Twitter account... they're everywhere.

[Autumn]

149. She's a joke. Just like her Twitter followers.

[Demsrule86]

137. She was awesome...I miss her.

[SMC22307]

144. You're not missing much, trust me.

Loud, not particularly interesting, and always taking the bait.

[zackymilly]

117. +3

[jcmaine72]

135. +4

[Raster]

153. +3

I don't believe we would lose in a tRump/Sanders contest. If all of the Sanders supporters and all of the old-line Dems would commit to removing tRump*, we could do so.

SAY AGAIN: If a ham sandwich is our party's nominee, then I will work my ass off to elect that ham sandwich. I will vote for the ham sandwich. I won't give a shit what kind of bread it's on, cheese or not, or various condiments. None of those things are the meat of the matter.

[Iliyah]

3. Democrats know how important it is to get this man out of office . . .

t-rump and the Republican party across board need to go.

[squirecam]

4. No actual democrat should stay home

As for non-democrats, this is why I don’t support Sanders during the primary.

If you want me to support him, don’t threaten us with not voting for any other dem, especially when you won’t join and support the party.

[olegramps]

8. I would never threaten to stay home, what about some others is the question who are not committed?

[squirecam]

11. If one isn't a democrat

Then I don’t really care.

So, in essence, I care what Democratic Party members say. Including what Sanders supporters say.

I don’t care what non-party supporters say if their position is Sanders or Bust.

[olegramps]

160. I think it would be wise to consider what the Independents will do.

They are the key to every election and are becoming more or a powerful factor.

[Kaleva]

36. Some self professed Dems will stay home regardless who is the nominee.

[MyOwnPeace]

102. Well, they had

DAMNED WELL BETTER NOT!!!!!!

Smack 'em upside the head and remind them of what too many did in 2016 - and where did THAT get us?

[Autumn]

7. None. Bernie can get a lot of the voters who previously stayed home or went to Trump.

Younger voters are not interested in Biden, they like Sanders and aren't afraid of socialism.

[olegramps]

13. The election will be decided by Independents, not by either Republicans or Dems.

What I what to know is what is the thinking of those who are not aligned with either party or not strongly committed Democrats. It appears to me that none of the candidates have the same strong appeal that Obama had.

[Autumn]

20. And a lot of Independents will go to Bernie, he has been very strong with them in the past.

[brooklynite]

55. Which Independents are those?

Voters in Vermont don't count.

[Zolorp]

15. I hear that same canard EVERY election.

It NEVER materializes.

[Autumn]

35. He got close to 50% of Independents in NH the last time and was strong with Independents elsewhere.

[Zolorp]

37. Where are the non-voters?

OOPS, nowhere to be found.

[Autumn]

54. The Iowa caucus just started today so we don't know they are nowhere to be found do we?

Might want to polish your crystal ball.

[Zolorp]

56. EVERY Canndidate says they will bring out the non voters in droves.

IT. NEVER. HAPPENS!

[Autumn]

64. A lot of voters sat out the last election I don't believe they will this time. Trump is a known

entity this go around.

[TwilightZone]

69. He was a known entity last time.

Nothing has changed. He's the same guy he's been for decades.

Anyone who bought the faux-progressive bullshit he was shilling ignored 40 years of his history and everything he else he said during the campaign.

[Autumn]

72. He was a known entity to many but not all. nt

[calimary]

112. I hope to God they don't do it again this time.

Which happened last time.

[JudyM]

17. Or to the Greens.

His platform is not too far a departure from their values.

Our party needs to build an alliance with them. If we could, the election would probably be won.

[wyldwolf]

9. traditionally, only Sanders-style 'dems' sit out elections.

[Champion Jack]

10. Not true.How many HRC voters supported Obama?

[Zolorp]

18. NEarly all.

The HRC voters that sat out 2008 was such a small number as to be statistically insignificant.

Nearly 25% of Sanders supporters sat out 2016, voted third party, or voted for Trump

[dualboy24]

42. Thats the inverse of the stats I have read

I remember hearing the stats year ago and just looked up again.

Sanders was 6 to 12% depending on survey
HRC in 2008 was 24 to 25% depending on survey

I think the big difference in 2008 Obama had a huge movement and rallies, in 2016 HRC was not able to generate the same level of moment or rallies.

Still in the end be it 6% or 25% it's too much, I can't see anyone in 2020 going to the extreme of say Sanders to Trump out of spite or otherwise. Trump is just too nutty.

Source:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/24/did-enough-bernie-sanders-supporters-vote-for-trump-to-cost-clinton-the-election/

[Autumn]

71. You are entitled to an opinion but not to your own facts.

In 2008, 25 percent of Democratic Primary voters who voted for Clinton went on to vote for John McCain in the general election and 30 percent of Clinton voters in the primary didn’t vote for Obama in general. A March 2008 Gallup poll found that 28 percent of Clinton voters would support McCain against Obama.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/105691/mccain-vs-obama-28-clinton-backers-mccain.aspx

https://sites.duke.edu/hillygus/files/2014/06/hendersonhillygustompsonPOQ.pdf#page=9

[Champion Jack]

124. nope

According to the exit polls, half of Clinton's supporters in Indiana would not vote for Obama in a general election match up with John McCain. A third of Clinton voters said they would pick McCain over Obama, while 17 percent said they would not vote at all. Just 48 percent of Clinton supporters said they would back Obama in November.

Obama gets even less support from Clinton backers in North Carolina. There, only 45 percent of Clinton supporters said they would vote for Obama over McCain. Thirty-eight percent said they would vote for McCain while 12 percent said they would not vote.

Obama voters appear to be more willing to support Clinton in November. In Indiana, 59 percent of Obama backers said they'd vote for Clinton, and 70 percent of Obama backers in North Carolina said they'd support the New York Democrat.

https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/06/exit-polls-half-of-clintons-supporters-wont-back-obama/

[wyldwolf]

22. "sitting out" doesn't equate to voting for someone else.

It means exactly what it say: They didn't vote. At all.

1960 comes to mind. So does 1968 and 1980.

If we want to extend it to Sanders-style 'dems' voting third party, we can look at '48 and '2000.

Yes, some Clinton voters voted for McCain. And many Sanders voters voted for Trump. Facts.

[JudyM]

21. If this is true, then the most logical thing to do would be to make him the nominee.

[wyldwolf]

24. we lose either way. But I'd rather not lose as a hostage

[JudyM]

27. Simple math. We win more votes w/Sanders if your statements about who defects is correct.

[wyldwolf]

39. that isn't simple math, it's fuzzy math

You're assuming Bernie wins in 2020. There's no indication the Democratic electorate, provided all eligible voters do so, could overcome the independent vote who would be turn off to him.

[JudyM]

43. He gets more of the independent vote. That's why he does better in open primaries.

[JudyM]

86. He does very well with independents.

[Autumn]

50. That's not true and you know it. nt

[Cha]

103. Or vote for ******* trump or Liar Stein

[TexasTowelie]

12. A lot.

I've had numerous conversations with Democrats that won't vote for Bernie.

[Zolorp]

19. So have I.

Most of them have fallen in love with Bloomberg because of his promise to run third party over Sanders earlier last year.

[Polybius]

46. If Sanders wins the nomination and Bloomberg runs third party, we are in serious trouble

Trump would win with 43% of the vote.

[Zolorp]

47. Yes, but with Sanders as the nominee, you may actually see nobody get 270 Electoral Votes

Once the Communist affiliations come to light in the general public, his numbers could tank so bad that he takes California, New York, and much of New England, Bloomberg takes PA, MI, WI, some Western states, maybe Florida and a few other states, and nobody reaches 270. Then the new House would decide the president and the new Senate would decide the Veep.

[choie]

114. "communist affiliations"???

are you for real?

[Zolorp]

116. Yes, Communist affiliations to which he ADMITTED in a 1988 interview.

In 1980, he was listed on the Vermont STATEWIDE BALLOT as an Elector for the Socialist Workers Party Presidential candidate.

The SWP is a Communist Party which is where the group that was thrown out of the Communist League of America (later, Communist Party United States of America) for supporting Trotsky over Stalin ended up calling themselves.

Bernie Sanders was an ACTUAL COMMUNIST on the Vermont ballot in 1980 at the age of 39. The candidate for whom he was running as an elector sided with Iran during the hostage crisis and sided with the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War.

If you choose to complain about this and claim Sanders was not "really" a Communist then, you have no grounds to stand upon to claim he is a Democrat today.

Look it up. This is real Bernie Sanders baggage that is not widely known, especially among his supporters.

[Zolorp]

118. One other thing

Sanders' affiliation with the SWP ran from 1977 at the age of 36 through November of 1984 when he endorsed the SWP candidate for president at the age of 43.

[choie]

125. Do you know the difference between

socialist and communist? No, I didn't think you did.

[Zolorp]

133. Do you know WTF you are talking about???

The Socialist Workers Party is COMMUNIST. They state it right there in their literature, they are COMMUNISTS. They got thrown out of The Communist League of America for supporting Trotsky over Stalin in 1928.

So you need to inform yourself before you go equating the SWP with the actual Socialists.

And yes, Sanders name was on the ballot as an elector for the SWP presidential candidate in 1980, which makes Sanders a Communist in 1980 every bit as his pledge last year makes him a Democrat today.

[musicblind]

96. If Sanders wins and Bloomberg runs third party

He would be committing political suicide.

I would hope Bloomberg would put the party first and not run as a third-party candidate.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

52. I question any Dem that is going to vote Bloomberg over Sanders.

Bloomberg is Republican light.

[Zolorp]

119. I cannot question them.

Sanders was affiliated with the SWP, a Communist Party, from 1977 until 1984.

I cannot question anybody who would have a problem with a candidate who affiliated himself with Communists at the height of the Cold War.

[NurseJackie]

23. I also know and have also spoken with numerous Democrats who won't vote for an admitted Socialist...

I also know and have also spoken with numerous Democrats who won't vote for an admitted Socialist with with such contempt and disdain for the Democratic party... and who called for President Obama to be primaried.

From what I'm able to gather, these individuals will show up and vote down-ticket, but they won't vote for Bernie. They make a very compelling argument and I understand how they feel. Also, if Bernie is the nominee, the Democrats have lost anyway... so they figure, what's the diff?

[olegramps]

25. I have also had discussions with Democrats who blame Clinton's loss of the election on Sanders.

Isn't it a fact that she was caught in a cross-fire on trade and tariffs? She even had to abandon her support of the TPP. Our abandonment of it has been an unmitigated disaster for us and a god send for the Chinese who are signing trade agreements with numerous Asia countries effectively locking us out of any real voice in some of the most important markets. I could list the negative effects that the tariffs have had on our economy if asked and they are substantial ranging for an actual increase in the negative balance of payments to full blown loss of market share.

[David__77]

87. Clinton opposed TPP.

That was her choice.

[olegramps]

150. It was a forced position in which she was in a deadly crossfire.

Anyone who be hard put to find an economist of any note who will not concede that it was a major mistake to pull out of the TPP. China has welcomed it as one of the best gifts that we could have given them that has resulted in them dominating the playing field.

[rockfordfile]

30. Everybody will be together to get trump out. Democracy and the USA depends on it.

[Turin_C3PO]

33. Tell them that

our country is at stake. I don’t want Sanders at all but he would be a hell of a lot better than the current imposter. The good thing is, that most real Democrats ultimately won’t throw a fit come Election Day.

[TexasTowelie]

49. If I was an enthusiastic supporter of Bernie, then I would consider making that argument.

However, since I'll be voting for a different candidate in the primary it is premature to be arguing with my friends about supporting a candidate that I'm not enthusiastic about. It wouldn't be convincing.

[TheRealNorth]

83. So much for "Blue no matter who"

Hippocrites.

[TexasTowelie]

88. They would be hypocrites

if they said, "blue no matter who." However, since the people that I spoke with didn't make that declaration they haven't behaved hypocritically and they are willing to support any other Democrat on the ballot. These individuals aren't bound by the loyalty oath that is in the DU TOS.

[USALiberal]

167. Lol, ok! Nt

[TexasTowelie]

168. I don't find anything amusing about the prospect about people not voting. YMMV.

If we pick a candidate that can't unify Democrats, then Trump wins. Bernie doesn't have a record of unifying or building consensus.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

14. Thankfully we won't have to worry with that scenario

That's how confident I am he will never be the nominee.

[olegramps]

44. But what affect will he have on the outcome? That has many party members concerned.

Here is my question. Just how closely and are his ideas with Trump's? In the last election they were virtually identical to Trump's in regard to tariffs and trade agreements. He seems to be at war with the traditional party members who are I would say are more moderate in their views which many regard as a reasonable approach to achieving solutions to the many problems that polarization has made impossible. My views are dependent on what I believe is imperative and that is gaining the support of the Independents. I have to admit that even though I voted primarily for Democrats I was an Independent until Carter ran and I was totally turned off by the lawless of that had gripped the Republican Party in which has become mired. I actually believe that the Republican Party must be totally exposed and destroyed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. The 2020 election will be won or lost in the suburbs.

Everything else is commentary.

[octoberlib]

78. +1

[DemocratSinceBirth]

90. There isn't much to add.

The Dems own the cities. The Repubs own the rural areas. The suburbs are up for grabs. The prescription for a Democratic victory is to run up the score in the cities, fight to a tie in the suburbs, and mitigate their losses in rural areas.

[SMC22307]

148. Exactly. Think Abigail Spanberger's district in Virginia. (n/t)

[pecosbob]

163. To go further, females comprise a majority of Democratic voters and non-voters

This is who will determine the next president.

[Mike 03]

26. "Stay home" isn't in my vocabulary, not ever.

A Democrat who stays home on election day deserves Trump.

[Raster]

28. I. will. vote. for. and. support. a. ham. sandwich. it. it. is. our. nominee.

Anything and Anyone is better than tRump*.

[Squinch]

107. Oh, yeah?? Well, I'll vote for a rotting fish head smoking a smelly cigar rather than Filthy Donnie!

[pamdb]

29. Sanders and stein

I don't like Sanders, I don't want Sanders, I think we'll lose with Sanders when the college kids are busy with exams and don't vote. Having said that, if he gets the nomination I will vote for him. I won't make any donations to him (right now I'm only giving money to Gary Peters running to hold his Senate seat in Michigan) but I am a firm believer in VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHO.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. You splain EXACTLY how I feel about Joe Biden... thanks.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[TygrBright]

31. Not me. I will vote blue, no matter who. n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

32. I know of 3 family members who currently say they won't vote for Bernie... its very upsetting!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[JustAnotherGen]

38. None will

Registered Democratic Party members will not. It's already enough.

It's 7 months until November and MF45 is going to really start fucking up. Like severely. 45 can't help itself. It will commit one outrageous act after another - driving the base to the polls.

It's going to be really really really bad now. We ain't see nothing yet from the effing crook in the white house.

[FarPoint]

40. We Democrats will vote in Force!

Such rhetoric is purposefully posted to divide Democrats....it will not beat us...we resist the manipulation....

DU should stand up to the social media thugs...

[olegramps]

53. My post was not to divide but to ask a simple question of paramount importance.

I reverently believe that Trump's reelection could be of such monumental consequence that I am truly concerned about any factor that could possibly result in his election. It is a fact that Sander's running against Clinton had a negative effect on her electability and some resent the fact that Sanders isn't a fully dedicated member of the Democratic Party. I have spoken with some official party heads who have complained if he is a Democrat then he should join the party and support it 24/7. And they claim if he was to run as an Independent or Social Democrat without the forum of the Democratic Party he probably wouldn't get more that 1 to 2 percent of the vote if that.

[getagrip_already]

59. We Dems are only 1/3 of the electorate!

We need every vote we can get, both in the party and outside. We can turn out 100% of dem registered voters and still lose.

[bdamomma]

45. All votes matter

no one is going to stay home. We need to save our country. Period.

[Kaleva]

48. You may be talking about voters who say they are Dems but in truth, are not.

Democrats know how important every election is and go out and vote for the our candidates regardless of who they are.

[GumboYaYa]

51. Well, would you stay home if Bernie is the nominee?

????

[olegramps]

60. I don't believe that any member of this board would stay home. We are committed.

The problem could be those who are less committed or actually resent Sanders and who regard him as a convenient intrusion and misuse of the party. The key is the Independents which have become a key to winning any national election. Which candidates have the greatest appeal to these voters who are not a primarily motivated by ideology.

[getagrip_already]

57. wrong question.....

Dems only make up a third of the electorate. Republicans slightly less.

It's the third in the middle that we need, and those will stay away.

I will vote blue, but I know a lot of people in the squishy middle who would never vote for sanders, even if they won't vote for trump.

[olegramps]

67. I stongly agree with what you say and have expressed the same thought.

My thinking was including those who are Independents and lean strongly Democrat who could be affected. I also believe that not every registered Democrat is as fully committed as those on this board. I believe that it also more true that Republicans will vote the party line regardless and are more monolithic that Democrats. Like to old saying: Herding Democrats is like trying to herd cats.

[Tiggeroshii]

58. Bernie's trade policies appeal strongly to the folks that lost us the last election

It is far fetched to say that can hurt him in anyway.

[samnsara]

61. the other question is how may sanders supporters will stay home of he doesnt get the nom..

..most of us have pledged openly to vote for whichever candidate gets the nom...i hope ALL of us do.

[highplainsdem]

63. None who are thinking clearly, given that Trump would be the alternative. If Sanders becomes our

nominess and you know anyone who usually votes Democratic but is considering not voting because it's Sanders, please do everything you can to make them aware how terrible a mistake that would be -- one that would hurt others, and one that they'll regret.

[Salviati]

65. Hopefully none

As stated in another post, anybody who doesn't vote for the democratic candidate in November is a fool, regardless of who the candidate is. Unfortunately, there do seem to be a lot of fools these days.

[Aaron Pereira]

66. Whichever Democrats tell themselves four more years of Trump will be fine.

I've yet to meet one but I'm sure they're out there . . . somewhere.

[Gothmog]

70. While Real Democrats will turnout, trump will easily destroy a weak candidate like sanders

I am very worried about down ballot races. sanders is a very weak candidate and would be easy for trump to destroy. In addition to the well written 101 page memorandum with oppo on sanders with a 1000 pages of backup from the Clinton campaign trump has his own oppo file on sanders that would destroy such a weak and divisive candidate like sanders.

Link to tweet

trump had a two foot thick book of oppo research on Sanders http://www.newsweek.com/myths-cost-democrats-presidential-election-521044

They ignored the fact that Sanders had not yet faced a real campaign against him. Clinton was in the delicate position of dealing with a large portion of voters who treated Sanders more like the Messiah than just another candidate. She was playing the long game—attacking Sanders strongly enough to win, but gently enough to avoid alienating his supporters. Given her overwhelming support from communities of color—for example, about 70 percent of African-American voters cast their ballot for her—Clinton had a firewall that would be difficult for Sanders to breach....

So what would have happened when Sanders hit a real opponent, someone who did not care about alienating the young college voters in his base? I have seen the opposition book assembled by Republicans for Sanders, and it was brutal. The Republicans would have torn him apart. And while Sanders supporters might delude themselves into believing that they could have defended him against all of this, there is a name for politicians who play defense all the time: losers....

The Republicans had at least four other damning Sanders videos (I don’t know what they showed), and the opposition research folder was almost 2-feet thick. (The section calling him a communist with connections to Castro alone would have cost him Florida.) In other words, the belief that Sanders would have walked into the White House based on polls taken before anyone really attacked him is a delusion built on a scaffolding of political ignorance.

sanders was such a weak primary candidate that the Clinton campaign did not use its oppo but trump would have fun destroying such a weak candidate like sanders

I will vote for the nominee of the party but I fear that the nomination of sanders will lead to a Speaker Kevin McCarthy

[octoberlib]

73. I'll vote for him but Trump will be re-elected.

The only states that matter are those swing states we need to win the electoral college. I live in one and Bernie will not win here.

[Sloumeau]

77. Which state is that? Just curious. Oh, and I agree with you. :) nt

[octoberlib]

79. North Carolina.

[Sloumeau]

82. Thanks for the friendly wave. :)

Amazingly, that little waving smiley face can actually make me smile.

[musicblind]

97. I agree with you octoberlib.

I live in North Carolina, also. I will campaign my heart out for Sanders if he is the nominee. I can't knock on doors because of my severe hearing impairment, but I will volunteer, hook my aid up to the phone and phone bank, I will fight tooth and nail to get him elected.

BUT, North Carolina will never vote for him. I wish that wasn't the case. My state infuriates me. But it is the case. He'll win the college towns and get blown out of the water in rural areas.

Honestly, I don't think Biden can win here. I hate to say that because I think he is our best shot, but I'm seriously questioning if any Democratic candidate can win given our state legislature and their shenanigans.

[musicblind]

98. may I ask which city in NC you live in? Or is that too personal?

I understand if that is too personal given the political climate, but I'm curious how it compares to my city.

[octoberlib]

105. Charlotte.It doesn't help that the Democrats on the city council and our Dem Mayor

agreed to hold the RNC here because they want the money. Ugh. NC's problem is the extreme gerrymandering. We would've taken back the legislature 2 years after we lost it if the gerrymandering was fairer. Duke did a study on it. Which city do you live in?

[ebbie15644]

74. Bernie thank god is not a dem

I will vote for a dem regardless of who is on the ballot.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

89. I hope none. I'm not a fan and I hope he isn't the candidate, but

I will absolutely vote for him if he is. Trump is worse.

[Dem4Life1102]

91. Dems won't stay home

The risk, with any candidate, is that they won't appeal to moderate independents and either they will stay home or vote republican.

[musicblind]

93. No one on these forms would sit home if Sanders wins.

I can't imagine a scenario where we would not rally around him should he win the nomination.

Bernie is a great man. My only concern about Bernie is I fear he can't win. That fear would not stop me from supporting him full tilt if he became our nominee.

I honestly believe that is how most people on here feel.

I also believe MOST Sanders supporters feel the same about even the most moderate Democratic candidates. At the end of the day, we're all on the same team.

[OnDoutside]

94. Probably none, but Democrats alone won't win this election, which makes this

OP a false question. The bigger question is how many Independents and moderate Republicans would vote Dem if Sanders is the nominee ? That's the issue that Sanderistas won't answer.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

99. I'm not staying home

My kid, who worked like Hell for HRC in 2016, is considering doing some organizing for Bernie because of his stands on healthcare and prescription drugs. Times change. It's officially time to let 2016 go.

Even Tulsi - who has no shot - would likely represent an improvement over Trump.

[redqueen]

100. That would be a stunning display of hypocrisy. nt

[radical noodle]

101. I would never stay home

Even if some won't vote for Bernie (and I see people out there who say that), they should be/will be encouraged to vote down-ticket for Democrats.

[roody]

106. The ones that prefer Trump over Bernie.

[Amimnoch]

108. I don't know any that will "stay home". I do know ones that won't support that ticket though.

As the rhetoric this season has increased, and the reported numbers of Sanders supporters that refuse to vote for our candidate if it isn't Bernie, or "depends" came out, I do know ones that have said they will only support down ticket, and 3 who have said they'd actually go as far as voting for 45 if it's Bernie, then Democratic Party down-ticket.

Even before the season started there was a lot of residual anger towards him for 2016, then he took on open and outspoken Stein supporters in much of his campaign leadership, and keeps bringing out and parading around other famous stein supporters at his rallies..
yeah, it's driving some very strong anti Bernie Sentiment.

[Bradical79]

109. Sanders has higher favorability ratings nationally

So I don't see it affecting turnout.

[MH1]

111. Not many at DU, but in the wider world on non-activist Dems?

It worries me that he is too liberal for some.

Although, I will implore everyone I can to vote for the Dem nominee, whoever it is.

[HarlanPepper]

158. You mean the real world?

Where people aren’t banned if they don’t proclaim support for the nominee? The real world that will actually determine the election? That world? Yeah I’m not optimistic about that either. He would be a disaster.

[MFM008]

113. If Sanders is the nominee on the ballot

I will vote for him.
I draw the line there.

[mcar]

121. How many Sanders supporters will vote for IMPOTUS or 3Rd party

if he doesn't get the nom?

There, I fixed it for you.

[budkin]

126. None if they give a damn about our country

Give me a break

[doc03]

128. There will be some no matter who gets the nomination. It will be difficult for me

to vote for Sanders but considering the alternative I will. IMO Sanders has no chance of winning the EC.

[nolawarlock]

129. I loathe the man ...

… but I don't have the luxury of staying home.

[stopbush]

131. The black vote will be jeopardized if Sanders is the candidate, and we lose if that happens.

[flamingdem]

140. What about if Bloomberg is the candidate?

That worries me a lot. (Stop and Frisk).

[Happy Hoosier]

136. I would crawl over broken glass to vote against Trump.

Not for Bernie, but against Trump. I don’t think Sanders would make a great President, but he’d be better than Trump by a mile.

[Vivienne235729]

138. The answer to that should be: NO ONE. I'll have to hold my nose, but Iwill vote for him

[ibegurpard]

139. None with brains

We can kiss any semblances of self governance goodbye if we dont sweep these authoritarians out of office

[gollygee]

141. I will vote with anyone with the D next to their name

And anyone who doesn't is swimming in privilege. Anyone who doesn't is safe from a lot of problems that are plaguing a lot of people in this country.

[dware]

142. I'll hold my nose and pull the lever for BS,

if he becomes our candidate, but at this point, I think it's highly unlikely.

If he does become our candidate, be prepared for another 4 years of the Mango Menace, along with the possible loss of the House and the retention of the Senate by the repigs.

[Codeine]

143. It would be the unhappiest ballot I've ever cast

but I’d vote for him, as would everyone else here at DU. His supporters have soured me on him to an unrecoverable degree, but I’m Blue No Matter Who.

[tavernier]

147. I hate to say this but I really feel like Bernie's objective is to split the vote.

I wish he wasn’t running.

But I will vote and it won’t be for trump.

[lisa58]

151. I won't

[dubyadiprecession]

152. Not me

I vote every two years.

[berksdem]

154. it will be a vote against Trump for me... not BS.

[highplainsdem]

156. I hope none will. I'll hold my nose and vote for BS.

But I wouldn't place any bets on him beating Trump.

Or on Dems retaining control of the House, let alone gaining control of the Senate.

[WePurrsevere]

157. If you can't stand Trump & care about our country, staying or voting 3rd party is...

a foolish and reckless thing to do IMO. I believe very strongly, more than ever before, that if you can't vote 'for' our candidate, think of it as voting 'against' Trump as you 'pull the lever' for the D candidate.

I admired Bernie for years as Vermont politician. Most of my personal political stances jive with his and yet I'm not 'for' him to run against Trump. That said, 'if' his name is in the D slot on Election Day 2020, I absolutely WILL vote for him as a vote against Trump.

[Tweedy]

161. Pick the best nominee for the position

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/02/06/rachel-bitecofer-profile-election-forecasting-new-theory-108944

And the nominee you think can pull people to the polls in the off year elections.

[Blue_Tires]

162. I'll show up and vote for him

(and that alone already makes me a bigger man than the Berners...)

But I'm not spending a single minute volunteering for him since he did nothing for us in Virginia.

[R B Garr]

164. He doesn't talk about the payroll tax for his pipe dreams,

but that alone will have millions running to vote against him.

[pecosbob]

165. Anyone that would not vote for the Dem nominee is by definition not a Dem

If Bernie is nominated I would not stay home, but I might move to Canada as he would lose badly IMO.

[Kentonio]

169. If we lose with Bernie in November I'm going to remind a lot of people about this thread

The same people who spent 2016 complaining about Sanders supporters not being energetic enough and now saying they’ll vote but do nothing else? Give me a break..

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

174. Not Democrats I'm worried about

How many independents can Bernie attract? That's where the election will be won or lost.