Bernie Not Dropping Out...Yet

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by: Colorado Pols

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke briefly at a press conference today to announce that he was not withdrawing from the Democratic Presidential race…but it’s hard to conclude that Sanders is not laying the groundwork for an exit sometime soon.

Senator Bernie Sanders said on Wednesday that he was continuing his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination despite suffering big primary losses this week, and that he planned to attend the scheduled debate on Sunday against former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Mr. Sanders, appearing at an afternoon news conference in Burlington, Vermont, said he was not quitting the race and wanted to debate Mr. Biden, who handily defeated Mr. Sanders in four states on Tuesday.

Listing a number of the issues on his progressive agenda, he addressed Mr. Biden directly and asked “Joe, what are you going to do?” about issues like health care, income inequality, mass incarceration and the criminal justice system…

…“While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability,’’ he said, adding that many people had told him they liked his agenda but were not convinced he could prevail in the general election. [Pols emphasis]

Sanders did not take questions from reporters following his statement, which seemed like it was designed mostly to encourage continued discussion of his top policy ideas.

Former Vice President Joe Biden prevailed over Sanders in four states on Tuesday, with the biggest blow coming in Michigan, a state that Sanders won in 2016 against Hillary Clinton.

7 thoughts on “Bernie Not Dropping Out…Yet”

MADCO says:

March 11, 2020 at 11:20 am

Why should a MI or SC delegate count more than an PA or MT delegate?

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kwtree says:

March 11, 2020 at 11:59 am

Bernie’s doing the right thing – if Biden truly wants “Party unity” and the support of Bernie’s coalition of progressive folks of all ethnicities and ages, Joe is going to have to work for it.

Just as Hillary had to do in 2016, when she eventually advocated for a public health option and free tuition at state universities, and more, Biden’s going to have to throw a few bones to the progressive base. I have yet to see that happen.

Biden’s argument seems to be: 1. I’m not Trump. 2. Obama likes me. 3. I’m not a socialist. 4. I can beat Trump. And he does appear to be winning on those arguments, so far, because everyone is scared of losing ( lives from disease, democracy from Trump’s treason, money from Trump and GOP greed and incompetence). And Biden makes them feel safer.

Am I wrong? Are there any policy proposals of Biden’s that are going to catch fire with us huddled masses?

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1. JohnInDenver says:
  
  March 11, 2020 at 1:26 pm
  
  What I'm hoping for from Biden is a clear statement of priorities
  
  1. beat Trump
  
  2. beat Pence and the Religious Right
  
  3. beat enough Senators to bring in Democratic leadership
  
  4. maintain and extend the House majority
  
  5. agree to sign every progressive measure Congress gets to his desk.
  
  For those concerned about how progressive Joe Biden will be, look to Virginia and Nevada
  
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bullshit! says:

March 11, 2020 at 2:10 pm

The Bernie kids never turned out. It's that simple.

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1. Diogenesdemar says:
  
  March 11, 2020 at 3:12 pm
  
  Whadaya’ mean, “The revolution will not be televised . . . “???? WTF? C’mon . . .
  
  Netflix? Instagram? Snapchat? . . .
  
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2. MADCO says:
  
  March 11, 2020 at 3:35 pm
  
  well -problem solved then
  
  Ds get nominee who is not a socialist and the alienated youth aren't needed to win the general so we can just shit on them anyway
  
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  1. itlduso says:
    
    March 11, 2020 at 3:46 pm
    
    The Only-Bernie's are like the GOP. You can only go so far to negotiate, and then you have to move on.
    
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