The race is tied and fascinating.

[kstewart33]

Bernie has won New Hampshire, Hillary won Nevada and Iowa was a tie.

I support Hillary, but this race will go on. As I see it, Bernie's advantages are his ability to inspire people with his message, and his undeniable commitment to his message - he's spent years working for it. People like him. As best I can tell, his rallies are fun(!). People come away with hope and the strong belief that what he is promises he can deliver. I think I understand why so many people 'feel the Bern!.' That really counts. And Bernie has shown that he is one skilled politician. Hillary underestimated him. He can play with the best of them. And he has the campaign war chest to compete for a long time.

Bernie's disadvantage to date is the inability to get enough of his inspired followers to actually vote. For the Revolution to get started for real, many more Bernie people have to vote, and so far the numbers have fallen short. A huge victory in New Hampshire, but as Nevada has shown and likely South Carolina will follow, NH doesn't reflect the Democratic electorate in most other states. The Democratic vote far has fallen far short of Obama's numbers. Bernie needs those numbers.

The media always turns in campaigns and I expect that if Bernie loses in South Carolina, the press will begin to look at the viability of his platform. This is a serious problem because of simple math - the hard numbers of a huge Republican advantage in their complete control in Congress, and the virtual certainty that it will continue. Bernie will eventually have to explain how he will accomplish his agenda beyond The Revolution. Voters are looking for that.

But Hillary has her own problems. She works to inspire but she is no Bernie. Her Wall Street connections continue to be a problem as do her paid speeches. Many doubt her honesty and that is a serious problem. And she at times is not her own best friend. And at times, Bill hurts more than helps.

But she has advantages. She never gives up. To steal her husband's phrase after his comeback in the 1992 NH primary, she will work "until the last dog dies." She trumps Bernie in accomplishments - people might not like what she has worked for, but she gets things done. This counts for most Hillary supporters. When an international crisis inevitably occurs or another 9/11 happens, I'd wager that many would feel more comfortable with Hillary at the helm than Bernie. She is one tough old dog. And in today's world, that counts.

The biggest unknown for Bernie is that he may not be able to win enough states in Super Tuesday to sustain his candidacy. And he needs huge numbers. The biggest unknown for Hillary is the final outcome of the FBI investigation into her emails. That could deep six her campaign.

So it's a tie. And the road from now on will be fascinating to watch.

So while we're all watching and posting, can we all be a little more civil with each other?

[NJCher]

1. he's on it

Bernie's disadvantage to date is the inability to get enough of his inspired followers to actually vote. For the Revolution to get started for real, many more Bernie people have to vote, and so far the numbers have fallen short.

I just came from a Bernie meeting, and there is a plan for getting those supporters to vote. What's more, it's a very simple plan. You can probably learn about it at Bernie's site, but the short story is that all we need to do is make phone calls. These aren't even persuasive calls--all they are are calls identifying Bernie supporters.

Everyone--get to a Bernie meeting and get involved. Nothng they are outlining to do is difficult. It's something each and everyone of us is capable of doing.


Cher

[Bernin4U]

11. The party and MSM being 90% in the tank for her before the race even began

...seems a fairly substantial disadvantage to me.

[NJCher]

17. that can change

At the last Bernie meeting I attended, there were some activists there who had been calling the media on certain characterizations they were making, etc., and they reported back that after direct contact, many actions on social media, etc., the media did correct their course.

Now, that is not going to automatically change overnight, but if we do embarrass the hell out of them and call them out whenever they cover unfairly, we are taking steps in the right direction.

What we can't do is think the task is beyond our reach. It is not. It is totally within our reach.


Cher

[Bernin4U]

22. Of course, he survived their blackout

And within the last few months, made it impossible for them to continue it without looking like even bigger fools.

But the issue was "to date", which is not necessarily "currently".

[ladjf]

2. Not a bad idea. It might help of the Clinton supporters would stop blocking us from many sites.

I was blocked for saying "I don't feel that Sec. Clinton is the best choice."

That's it. Blocked.

I tried to post tonight to add to a post by a Clinton supporter that made sense to me. But, I was immediately told that I had been blocked from Clinton sites.

[kstewart33]

6. Whoever did it was way out of line.

I've never blocked or ignored anyone so I don't know how that works.

For both sides: why not stop all the blocking and focus on being a little more civil with each other. Dropping the profanities would help.

[ladjf]

10. I actually know who did it. There was a post done by Sanders supporters

that asked if anyone had been banned. About 12 of us cited the same person. That person has a Clinton website with his name on it. Apparently, his hobby is stopping anyone from writing any statements contrary to his/her wishes. A real bad practice. One that I've never seen during the decade that I'm been a DU member.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. Please see my post 9.

The HCG is the ONLY safe space on DU for Hillary Clinton supporters. Even there, some of us are "alert-stalked."

[BlueMTexpat]

9. Well, it's a bit tit for tat.

I was blocked from the BSG simply for politely requesting that SBS supporters not keep repeating GOPer memes against Hillary. I said nothing against Bernie.

Because HRC supporters are completely outnumbered on DU by SBS supporters, we really do like to have just ONE forum where our candidate is NOT trashed 24/7. Thus, we are a tad sensitive when people come strolling by simply to dis our choice there when the terms specifically state that the HCG's purpose is to support HRC and our choice of candidate is dissed everywhere else on DU.

[ladjf]

13. That makes sense. I can understand how that makes you feel. Bernie picks up a load

of criticisms all day and it gets tiresome.

But, here's how I see it. DU is a public board for all people interested in the Democratic Party. During the time with there are two are more candidates from the same party, this cross criticism will happen. Naturally, neither side can find much to agree on unless there are individuals who think they are both well qualified, which doesn't happen too often.

I'm for allowing anything that is said unless the criticism is unverifiable. However this problem works out, I'm still glad we have "DU as a forum for our opinions.

[BlueMTexpat]

16. That would be fine if

all people were as civil as you are. We can certainly agree to disagree.

But when I am called names, alert-stalked, and every GOPer TP is constantly and deliberately used HERE against my candidate, then I - and others - need somewhere in this site to go where that does not happen. Either that or we will leave. Many already have.

Hillary has been a solid Democrat since 1972 at least. Yet she is treated by too many here as if she were a GOPer. That is unacceptable, IMO, and beyond mere disagreement.

[Matariki]

3. Thoughtful post. A rarity around here lately, so thanks.

I would consider that many first time voters might find caucuses intimidating. It will be interesting to see how primaries play out.

[FloridaBlues]

4. No she won Iowa so that's 2 hillary 1 Bernie

[dana_b]

5. maybe the "race" is politically fascinating

but when many of us know what this "race" really means and what's behind it, it's not fascinating. it's scary.

[kstewart33]

14. It's scary for all of us.

We all know what the stakes are and what we stand to lose if a Republican wins the presidency. Just look at the candidates.

Our common enemy is the Republican party. The potential losses are so great that at the risk of sounding Pollyannish, I hope that once the Dem candidate is determined, that both sides work together to see if we can blend our ideas and tactics to beat these guys.

In many, many years past, I was a strategist for 2 Congressional campaigns. I am not new to this business, and I believe that that's possible and may well make the difference in who wins.

[dana_b]

18. No, I don't see Hillary as a friend

I see her as just about as bad as the Repubs so I guess that's where we'll have to agree to disagree.

[cleopotrick]

7. Nice post! nt

[beachbumbob]

8. Last time I looked Hillary has a HUGE super delegate lead

Her road to nomination way easier than any chance Bernie has...

[NJCher]

20. read up on the superdelegate thing

the media has the public completely misinformed.

I'd write it out, but I'm too tired to do so right now.


Cher

[Robbins]

15. except it's not tied

bernie and those like me who supported him have lost.the caucus system is rigged for clinton.

[book_worm]

21. Really? and Obama won many of his victories in the caucus system

in 2008. In fact, in the future Bernie is probably going to have his best results in caucuses like in Colorado and Minnesota. You probably should do some research before posting this kind of stuff.

[kstewart33]

24. I'd wager that Bernie will win most of the caucuses.

The problem for Bernie though is that only about 10% of the Democratic delegates are chosen by caucuses.

[book_worm]

19. Tied? Not so sure

Granted Bernie has done better than most thought, but now Hillary has shown that she can win in the Midwest with Iowa (a state she came in third in 2008) and Nevada in the West (by a margin that will be the same or a little more than in 2008). It is likely she will win a landslide in South Carolina in the South next week. Bernie won a huge victory in NH, but I also kind of discount that because it is in his backyard. He needs to show he can win outside of New England.

[farleftlib]

23. Very good post

I'd quibble with a few things, such as wanting Hillary in charge in the event of another terrorist attack. I find her too eager to shoot first and ask questions later. She's much too hawkish and we're mired in two ground wars/occupations now. Libya was not an accomplishment either, not in the least.

Otherwise it was evenhanded and the primary is turning into a real horse race. Who woulda thunk it?