2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: ANTHONY WEINER: I have one big question for Bernie Sanders [View all]frazzled
(18,402 posts)These are the party stalwarts who will play a role in determining the nominee if the race ends up being close. So unless Bernie is able to pull an Obama and be ahead in both popular vote and delegate count, his consistent rejection of the party over several decades is indeed going to matter.
And it will be fair and square, by the rules (whether you like those rules or not). A primary is a party's selection of it's nominees, and its a pretty tough row to hoe for someone who has rejected the party's nomination even in his own state on multiple occasions.
The nominee and eventual president is expected to raise money for the party and to campaign on behalf of its congressional candidates. Are party regulars going to choose the guy who never has done this ever before? It's a valid question. It's realpolitik.