Democratic insiders: Sanders doesn’t worry us. So far.

[babylonsister]

Democratic insiders: Sanders doesn’t worry us. So far.


Party establishment is confident Clinton will win

By David Lightman

GREENVILLE, S.C.

The Democratic establishment isn’t panicking over the prospect of Bernie Sanders as their presidential nominee. Yet.

They figure that Hillary Clinton, the darling of Democratic regulars, will win the Feb. 20 Nevada caucus and Feb. 27 South Carolina primary handily. That would put her on track to sweep a string of similar states that vote March 1, relegating Sanders to scrappy challenger status.

Even if Clinton stumbles, supporters see another insurance policy: superdelegates. Fifteen percent of the nominating convention’s delegates are party officials unbound by results. So far, The Associated Press estimates that about half the 712 superdelegates are backing Clinton, while eight are behind Sanders.

But.

Privately, those same Democrats read last week’s New Hampshire primary results and shudder. Sanders’ 22-point win over Clinton was stunning but not wholly unexpected. What jolted insiders was its breadth.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article60675956.html

[daleanime]

1. Do politicians even wonder why people don't trust them?

[kgnu_fan]

5. establishment needs BIG lesson...

[stopbush]

2. Glad to hear that the party members aren't being spooked by the Sanders blip in NH.

eom.

[morningfog]

4. Or his "blip" in Iowa, or his "blip" in Nevada, or his "blip" in national polls.

LOL

[stopbush]

6. Exactly. It's going to be interesting to watch as the BSers over confidence morphs

into disillusionment as the primary season progresses.

Actually, I think NV is Bernie's make or break moment. If he wins NV, even marginally, he will have momentum going into SC, and that would make even a loss in SC easier to take, even if it was a big loss. That would keep him viable into Super Tuesday.

But if he loses in NV and then in SC, he's in big trouble for Super Tuesday, and I don't see how he wins in SC if he loses in NV.

All doable, of course, but a heavy lift for Sanders.

[daleanime]

8. I think it's the other way around, if Hillary doesn't get....

a solid win in either state she is in real trouble.

[stopbush]

10. You may wish to believe that's so, but she has support in the upcoming primaries

from traditional D constituencies that BS can only dream of. Plus, we're getting into the closed primaries where the Independent vote can't participate. BS is losing badly in those states right now. Don't see it changing.

He forgot to include "must woo existing Ds of all stripes, especially the establishment" in his plan to hijack the Party for this election.

[daleanime]

12. Hijack? Some one who supports the same values and goals...

is 'hijacking' the party?

Been a democrat for nearly 40 years, thank you for making me feel unwelcome in my party. Don't worry, if the "never, ever" side prevails I'll take the hint.

[morningfog]

13. He will not win SC. That is not in play.

Nevada very much is. I think he can and will win there.

Come Super Tuesday, he can take four states and Hillary takes the southern states. And they will split delegate la everywhere.

As Nate silver said today, if Bernie can win NV, it is *possible* that he can keep taking roughly half the delegates through the primary in California and it is possible that he wins the nomination.

It isn't Bernie's people who are over confident. That would be Hillarys. The former front runner who has lost support evreywhere.

[stopbush]

14. I'm only supporting Hillary because Bernie blew it with me when he put out those

Republican wet dream fantasy numbers on how he was going to pay for his programs. Up until then, I was all ears, because like many progressives, I would like to see major changes in this country.

But one needs to be realistic in WHAT can change. If I could wave a magic wand, I would make all religion go away from the USA, Xianity more than the rest. But that's unrealistic, just like Bernie's free-stuff-for-nothing-your-boss-will-pay-for-it malarky.

At this point, major liberal economists are finally calling BS to task on his ridiculous proposals. And what's really, really disappointing is to watch as the BSers on DU attack all of these traditional Democratic allies and advocates as being anti-everything-good for the simple fact that they've looked at Bernie's numbers and said, "really?"

And what's also disappointing is to watch as the many BS supporters who are first-time voters are drinking the kool ade, believing that a single primary win in NH means that BS is going to run the table on primaries. It just is never going to happen, because it has never happened. Disappointment and eventual disillusionment are just around the corner in NV and SC for the BS fanatics.

Like it or leave it, Bernie is running an all-or-nothing campaign. I have been voting since 1972, and I know exactly what becomes of such campaigns. They never, ever win.

So, I am now confidently supporting Hillary, because I don't need her to change the world, I just need her to improve it by continuing with the good things Obama and Democrats over the decades have already done. More than that, I know that if a Democrat isn't elected, this country is charging back into the dark ages. Bernie showed me he was worse than an establishment candidate. He showed me he was a self-deluded candidate.

I'm voting Hlllary. It's really the only choice out there.

[daleanime]

7. Well, since people are back to holding....

Wall Street fundraisers, I would say, no they're not spooked......yet.

[morningfog]

3. Just wait until after Nevada.

And when Bernie gets within 15 points (perhaps even less) in SC.

The state of the race going into March 1 is that Hillary may have had only one clear victory (South Carolina) despite spending millions upon millions, calling in every endorsement possible, and running for nearly a year. Her national lead has shriveled from 30+ points to a tie, just like in Iowa and just like in Nevada.

It is happening in many of the remaining states as well, including several on Super Tuesday.

[Punkingal]

9. Snort....

"Hillary Clinton, the darling of Democratic regulars."

[Motown_Johnny]

11. No mention of the ~$7.2 million raised in ~24 hours after New Hampshire?

That seems conspicuous by it's absence.