2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Today proves Hillary has done a terrible job of wrapping this up! [View all]frazzled
(18,402 posts)Most primary candidates who become the nominee don't sweep every state, especially in the early part of the race. The one exception was perhaps Kerry, in 2004. And that turned out to be a bad thing for him: a more contested primary would have helped his eventual candidacy.
This primary is unusual in that it began (save Iowa, and that with such minimal traction for O'Malley it didn't matter) with only 2 candidates, rather than winnowing down to two over the early contests. There is Clinton, and there is anti-Clinton. It is my belief that in a primary season that had 5-8 candidates, Sanders would probably have been a fairly marginal figure. His ascent is due in part to his being the only alternative.
Let the contest continue. I think it's good for Clinton (if not for her voice).