FiveThirtyEight Endorsement Update: Hillary 406, Sanders 2, O'Malley 1

[Cali_Democrat]

UPDATED 2:33 p.m. EST | November 6

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-endorsement-primary/

[JonLeibowitz]

1. Thanks! I am definitely going to let some politicians' opinions decide how I vote.

[NurseJackie]

4. Many do. Others look to respected officials as validation that they've made the correct choice.

I understand how Sanders voters would want to react in such a way that would attempt to minimize the endorsements Hillary already has. But at the same time, I think it's a mistake for anyone to underestimate the overall value of these endorsements, and how they can influence many voters and donors. Of course, they aren't the be-all-end-all to election outcomes, but they do play an important role and can be used as a reliable predictor of how things are likely to turn out.

[TeddyR]

16. Which respected officals are you referring to?

If I'm going to let someone determine who I should vote for, I want to make sure I understand the issues and the endorsements. So please tell me exactly whose endorsements are most important and whose aren't.

[NurseJackie]

18. I'm afraid you're on your own with that one. But I'm exceedingly flattered that you'd ask.

If, as you appear to be suggesting, you're actually someone who actually looks to others for that kind of guidance, then you'll need to make that determination yourself. I trust that you're smart enough to do that. I have the utmost confidence in you.

If your question is sincere, then perhaps I can give you a head start and point you in the right direction. I think my best advice to you would be to suggest that you review the list, perhaps one of those individuals is someone you've voted for in the past. Perhaps you'll see a name of someone from your home state and you happen to know a little bit about that person and what they stand for. Or, maybe one of them has championed a cause that you're passionate about.

Good luck!

[Persondem]

6. Follow the link. It's really very informative. nt.

[JonLeibowitz]

9. Oh I've seen it before, and it is informative. But I hope nobody uses this to help them choose n/t

That would be very poor decision making

[Hortensis]

14. Not this alone, but remember most of these,

to some degree or other, are people who have worked and socialized with and know the candidates. Some know a lot about them. Wouldn't it be valuable to know what a candidate's real reputation among his or her colleagues was, not the twisted and, at best, totally inadequate versions we get filtered through main stream and right wing media?

[Little Star]

2. What no Trump?.....

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. Or Carson

This may be the election that breaks the trend. It's really not surprising that mainstream political folks are endorsing mainstream political candidates. But we've never had an election like this, where outsiders running within the Democrat and Republican parties are creating genuine enthusiasm. There was Perot in 1992, but he ran as an independent. The bottom line is, why would someone who IS a politician endorse someone who isn't? Why would someone who was elected as a Democrat endorse someone who wasn't?

[NurseJackie]

3. Wow! Even MORE good news? I don't know how much more of this I can stand! (Happiness Overload!!)

[Persondem]

5. Thank you for posting this. I followed the link and noticed that

the governor of Vermont endorsed Clinton. That could be a very good sign!!

K & R

[MADem]

8. Most of the VT leadership has endorsed Clinton.

Senator Leahy endorsed her way back in April. The governor endorsed in May. Welch hasn't endorsed anyone yet (he endorsed Obama last time).

EVEN the Mayor of BURLINGTON endorsed her, too!

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/04/30/burlington-mayor-not-backing-bernie-sanders-for-president/AWU1TvqspyBbaQdSSeL4PI/story.html

[NurseJackie]

11. +1 (I know … right?!) :-)

[Armstead]

7. 406 people who know where their bread is buttered

a
Heck if I were an ambitious politician, I'd endorse her too. Or even if if I were a politician with principles who has been "reassured" that Clinton "really, really cares" about my issues, and means it this time.

And, yes, probably a few who probably have a grudge against Sanders because he isn't a "real" Democrat, or got into an argument with him at some point.

[azmom]

10. And Hillary claims she is an outsider.

She seems to claim many things that are not based on factual evidence.

[quickesst]

12. Those Bernie Sanders supporters

.... who are just butt hurt over this know good and well that if it was Bernie getting these endorsements they would be dancing in the streets. Sad for them. Not.

[lunamagica]

13. K&R Awesome!

[TeddyR]

15. Do voters really

Let the endorsement of politicians who have been in the pocket of special interests for years determine how they will vote? Congress' approval rating hovers at an all-time low, but the opinion of those folks should matter to me? No thanks, I'll make my own decision on which candidate to support, taking into account the candidates' position on issues important to me, and will ignore the fact that some individual who receive campaign money from Exxon or Aetna thinks I should vote a particular way.

[SidDithers]

17. DU rec...

Sid

[oasis]

19. Kick and rec

[cosmicone]

20. Bernie is so toast n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

21. When you have to put your real name beside your opinion...

...you make sure your opinion is a sound one.

[DCBob]

22. It is remarkable there are so few willing to endorse Sanders..

given we are told repeatedly by many on this board he is our only hope to save America.

[Cha]

24. KIck for updating us.. mahalo Cali!

[oasis]

25. Kick

[Historic NY]

26. K&R