Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: What if 20% of Biden supporters wouldn't support Sanders? [View all]relayerbob
(6,537 posts)If 20% (claiming they won't vote for JB) of 30% (the average percentage of Dems voting for BS) of 33% of the voting population (registered Dems) would do that, it represents roughly 2% of the voters - that's assuming that original 20% actually ever really intended to vote for Sanders or to even vote at all.
Also, Sanders does not represent everyone who considers themselves progressive. Certainly Warren's supporters would, and they broke largely towards Biden (as I would've expected, having been a Warren supporter). Many of Biden's and the other candidates would consider themselves progressive also, whether the 20% purists think so or not.
And as you mention, independents will lean Biden that wouldn't touch Sanders, and even some of the moderate goppers will. And there are, and always have been, those who will not join the team, no matter who is the nominee, in every party, and throughout our history.
In the end, to fix this whole mess, we'll need a very broad base of support across the nation, and we are going to have to learn how to work together again. In that way, Biden has a path to actual success, not just a "path to the nomination". The prize isn't being President, it's being successful *as* President. Is Sanders wants his ideas used and his legacy remembered, he'd join forces. Instead, it is increasingly likely that either his ideas won't be used, or that they will end up credited elsewhere, so: lose-lose for him.
So, basically, I think I agree with your assessment.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden