The Independent: Why Hillary Clinton could lose the Democratic nomination to Bernie Sanders

[imagine2015]

Why Hillary Clinton could lose the Democratic nomination to Bernie Sanders
A big win in the 7 June California primary could hand Mr Sanders hundreds more delegates, which would call into question Ms Clinton's candidacy
by Mal Siret
June 2, 2016

Hillary Clinton could lose the race for Democratic nominee as the focus shifts to California, where an influx of voter registrations threatens to derail her lead over Bernie Sanders.

Mr Sanders will be looking to the state to boost his campaign with news of a further 1.5 million people registering to vote since January this year.

The latest statistics from the Institute of California will be encouraging to Mr Sanders as a big win in the 7 June California primary, where the candidates are currently virtually deadlocked, could hand him hundreds more delegates. Mr Sanders currently has 1,501 pledged delegates to Ms Clinton's 1,769.

The influx of additional registrants – a 218 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2012 – is likely to include large numbers of young voters and could make this scenario a reality.

If Mr Sanders were to win in California it would seriously call into question Ms Clinton's candidacy in the general election and could result in a number of superdelegates, including distinguished party leaders and elected officials who are free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination, withdrawing their support.

Mr Sanders said although Ms Clinton has received "a whole lot more" superdelegate support than he has to date, "they don’t vote until they're on the floor of the Democratic convention". He said that his job was now to convince them of his electability against Donald Trump.

He is considered the stronger contender against Mr Trump nationally, with recent surveys putting him ahead by about 10 points.

Mr Trump and Ms Clinton, currently subject to a damning report on misuse of a private email server while she was secretary of state, are possibly the most disliked nominees in decades, while Mr Sanders is the candidate more liked than disliked in favourability ratings.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/us-elections-hillary-clinton-could-lose-democratic-nomination-to-bernie-sanders-a7059076.html

[vi5]

1. This is really getting difficult for me....

Look, I don't like Hillary. It's going to be a major struggle for me to hold my nose and vote for her but I probably will. But as a politician I loathe her. I loathe her opportunism. I loathe her craven position taking on what will most benefit her political career. I loathe so much about her. I loathe the thought of another Clinton presidency plagued with scandal (and yes a lot of Bill's "scandals" were manufactured, but a lot of them, the obvious ones were not). My position is that nominating her, even if she wins the GE will be solidifying the end of the Democratic party as I've known it for the past 47 years of my life. She will be a final admission that Democrats are no longer the party of progressives and liberals but instead the party of "Not as bad as the GOP".

But she's going to be the nominee. Based on the process the Democratic party has in place now. Based on a lot of establishment support. But she will be the nominee.

I don't expect nor would I ask someone to suddenly like her, or that they even vote for her. But the idea that she is not going to be the nominee is starting to really not play well with a lot of people. I've been a hold out longer than most as far as finally getting annoyed by a lot of this, but.....here I am.

[imagine2015]

2. Don't worry. Hillary won't win the nomination at the convention. Here's why.

Not unless most Democratic superdelegates who are currently members of Congress and are up for re-election don't mind being swept out of office in a Trump landslide against Hillary.

I think their self-preservation instincts will not let that happen.

The main objective of old guard top Democratic party politicians is to convince people like us to thrown in the towel, that Bernie can't possibly win the nomination. It's clearly designed to demoralize progressives and liberals.

Don't fall for that line of propaganda and attack.

It's simply not true.

[vi5]

3. You clearly underestimate...

the ability of Democratic leadership and establishment figures to completely stick their heads in the sand and not realize or not be willing to do what "the people" want.

Ours is now a party that is relying completely on the strategy of "Cower behind some furniture and wait for Republican opponent to do or say something stupid enough to turn public opinion against them."

That's it. That's the entire strategy.

Don't attack. Don't use their own words against them.

Retreat immediately upon being accused of "playing politics" or "being unfair".

[Ino]

8. Hillary doesn't care if you loathe her.

She cares only that you hold your nose and vote for her. She will then gleefully announce you as one of the number who supports her, one of those who have given her a mandate. Then she will do as she pleases.

Oh... she does appreciate your announcement that you'll vote for her no matter what. That's very freeing for her, and something with which she can reassure the superdelegates that she will indeed prevail in the GE.

[MisterP]

4. it's only because she's intensely disliked and mistrusted, barely beats out Trump, and has nothing

to offer: a few months of "boola boola Trump!" will overcome all that!

(remember, these people remember 2010-4 as successful campaigns that could've gone worse)

[tonyt53]

5. Hmm, those pesky voters really do matter. So far 3 million more votes for HRC than Bernie.

Do the math.

[bunnies]

6. "So far"

One cant so much "do the math" when the equation is incomplete.

[B Calm]

7. I think most democrats are sick and tired of defending the Clinton's. I grew tired

of it after NAFTA, but came back and defended during the impeachment. No more, I just want them to fade away into the north-woods of upstate NY. She and the oligarchs are destroying the party and she needs to drop out now before the party self destructs.