2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Hillary doesn't need or want Bernie's supporters votes in the general election. [View all]karynnj
(60,725 posts)For these people, it might not be possible to sell them on Clinton herself. what it will come down to is that though only Clinton's name is on the ballot -- EVERY ISSUE THEY CARE ABOUT is virtually on the ballot too. On every domestic issue, while there are differences between Sanders and Clinton, they are going in the same direction. Both will do what they can to continue the Obama administration's gains with the Paris climate change, healthcare, minimum wage ... etc EVERY Republican will veto anything in the right direction on these issues. The issue of the Supreme Court is obvious. Personally, both Clintons are not my favorite Democrats, but they are Democrats and they are better than any current Republican on each of these issues.
It might also be that it is too early to make this point. For many, who actually came to think Sanders could win and for whom that is their dream, first they are still fighting as is Sanders. Unlikely does not mean impossible - even as the chance approaches zero. This is not 2008, HRC was much closer, but it is also true that by May, if everything went as predicted, Obama would get more delegates. Yet this was clearly not the time to ask Clinton people to accept Obama. Have patience -- which this year when she is so dominant -- should be easier as Clinton supporters can be very confident she will triumph.
Once Clinton has the majority of the pledged delegates and a week or so have passed, I predict that many Sanders people will admit -- that though they still do not like her -- they will vote for HRC and in many cases work for her election.