Reuters national tracking poll: Hillary's lead increasing.. now leads 58-40.

[Armstead]

41. What is the "base" and how does that compare to the nation's "base"?

I think the ideal candidate would be a Barack Obama who is less tied to corporate power and more reflective of Bernie's values and goals and basic message.

Bernie has done a great job of connecting with many elements of the "base"...of you look at people as individuals rather than just as demographic marketing points...That includes many AAs and Latinos, who are strong supporters of Bernie once they become familiar with him.

There is a lot of fodder for in depth discussions regarding the dynamics of this primary in both pragmatic and "spiritual" (non-religious) terms.

But , in short, I find it very depressing that instead of embracing an opportunity for a positive renewal, the Democratic Party is choosing to stifle real reform and further embedding a status quo approach and candidate that are beyond their sell-by dates.

And I'm not a millennial -- I'm an older guy who has been seeing the same pattern for decades. And seen the damaging results both on America and the viability of the Democratic party (IMO, of course).

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2016/04/8596894/after-public-anguish-bronx-councilman-endorses-sanders-eve-primary

With just a day to go before New York's presidential primary, Councilman Ritchie Torres of the Bronx is throwing his support behind Bernie Sanders, citing the Vermont senator's progressive agenda.

“Bernie represents a special phenomenon in progressive politics. He singularly has made inequality and poverty the focal point of the presidential election — that is his contribution to progressive politics and he’s energizing young people to an extent never seen before,” Torres said, in an interview with POLITICO New York.

Torres, who grew up in public housing in the Bronx, sent a letter to all the presidential candidates last week asking them to tour New York City Public Housing Authority buildings to see a glimpse of what decades of federal divestment has done to the city’s public housing stock.

Torres, a self-described millennial and the youngest member of the City Council, had been torn on his decision for months. In an interview just last week, he described his conundrum, saying, “My heart is with Bernie but my head is with Hillary.”

In the end, it was Sanders’ agenda and commitment to closing the federal funding gap in public housing that won out....

“He’s tapping into something powerful and energizing young people in a way that has not been seen. Whether you are supporting him or opposing him there is no denying the impact that he’s had on progressive politics,” Torres said. “He’s changed the way we talk about politics and made poverty and inequality the centerpiece of the presidential election.”


Torres admits there is a hint of idealism to his endorsement and to Sanders’ campaign, but he does not see it as a sign that a Sanders’ presidency would be hindered by an inability to work across party lines.

“I’ve had the opportunity to interact personally with Bernie and I get the sense he is incredibly communicative and open-minded and he would listen to people. There is an opportunity for elected officials and grass roots activists to shape what he thinks,” Torres said.

The Bronx councilman also heaped praise on Clinton, citing her decades of experience and her record.....