Egos and Support Systems in the Democratic Primaries
Running to become the President of the United States requires an personal ego on the part of candidates that exceeds the norm. The vicious attacks and backbiting that happen to any candidate demands a penetration-proof ego that protects the candidate from flagging.
Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are well-equipped for this battle of egos, and they're aided by their top-level supporters and campaign leadership people. Their job is to maintain the veneer of sheer ego that enables the candidates to believe that they will prevail, even when the numbers demonstrate that they cannot.
The closer the primary campaign comes to its conclusion at the Democratic convention, the more difficult it can become to maintain the ego protection that is required. Tempers flare and support systems have to go into high gear to keep the candidates presenting a positive image on the campaign trail.
Whether a candidate is currently leading or trailing in the race, the ego challenges are harsh. In the end, the candidate with the strongest support system close to them will likely prevail, especially in a relatively close race. For Bernie Sanders, his strongest supporters are rank-and-file voters, along with a couple of campaign leaders who work diligently to pump hope into the campaign. He does not have a strong network of peers, however, in the Senate or elsewhere in government.
Hillary, on the other hand, has stronger high-level peer support, lent to her by a large group of super delegates, all of whom are in top leadership positions in the party. She has a lead in primary voters, too, which doesn't hurt. But, it is the peer support she is receiving that makes it easier for her to maintain her veneer of ego as the race nears its climactic finish. Her peers are keeping her spirits up and helping her to weather a number of storms.
As June 7 and the final feedback from primary voters draws near, we're starting to see the results of the pressure and the effectiveness of the support teams. It's the most difficult period in a reasonably close primary race. Following June 7, things will change. There's still the DC primary on June 14, but its delegate count is low enough not to matter. On June 8, the nominee will not just be presumptive but known to one and all.
Hasten the day! We're all too close to the edge right now for comfort.
