BBC: Game over for Bernie Sanders?

[ucrdem]

Anthony Zurcher
North America reporter
7 hours ago

{snip}

Some have suggested that the decision to continue with Tuesday's primaries is evidence that the Democratic Party establishment is trying to crown Biden before their man can surge back into contention - given them all the more reason to soldier on.

{snip}

Sanders should have a long think about how long he wants to stay in this fight, however, even if he does have more than enough financial resources to carry on.

He was swept on Tuesday and lost five out of six contests last week. With the primary calendar in the coming weeks emptying, there's little opportunity for him to change his momentum at the ballot box anytime soon.

Sanders is going to face growing calls from Democrats to gracefully bow out - something he did not do until the eve of the convention four years ago, much to the consternation of many Hillary Clinton supporters.

The bottom line for Sanders may be evaluating what's best at this point for the movement he created. Will staying in the race give him a greater platform to talk about his issues and buy him time for a comeback? Or will hanging around only increase the chances that he is relegated to an electoral afterthought?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51939829

[NCProgressive]

1. The "movement" doesn't show up at the polls

Sanders should quit immediately.

[ucrdem]

3. Their line is that the elections should have been postponed due to virus.

It was rigged against Bernie you see.

[NCProgressive]

4. Yes ... the myth of

"Bernie never loses. He gets screwed."

[ucrdem]

5. They were quick to call for postponement on Sunday

as soon as the debate went south for Sanders. And many predicted this complaint would follow.

[McKim]

13. I have had Enough!

I have had enough bashing from Biden supporters. This is just so wrong and so unproductive!
Give it a rest. How can we come together when you are stomping on Sanders supporters. The 2016 election is over. Recognize that the Sanders campaign has good ideas and incorporate some and welcome them.

[ucrdem]

14. I meant Sanders campaign officials.

No offense intended to Sanders supporters here. I know it's been rough. Did you hear Joe's speech last night? He had nothing but praise for Sanders and his supporters, admired their energy and commitment, and hoped they would join him in the fight against Trump.

Here are his remarks last night:

[PatSeg]

15. Geez I hope Bernie and/or his supporters

don't start that crap about the DNC and the election being rigged against him or how the media never gave him a fair shot. The media pretty much ignored Biden until he won South Carolina AND the DNC didn't force people to vote for Joe.

I am really, really hoping Bernie exits the race gracefully and with dignity. Otherwise, he will be remembered primarily for being a bitter loser who didn't know when to quit.

[ucrdem]

6. Joe gave a great fireside-chat victory speech.

Said all the things Trump has never gotten around to saying about coronavirus, even before mentioning the two races he'd just swept (this was before Arizona was officially closed). He gave it from home because of the virus and I heard it in my car. The format really worked well for him.

[Clash City Rocker]

7. The 844 delegates Joe still needs is slightly less than the 861 Bernie has won

It’s effectively over. The best thing now is to unite the party against our common orange enemy. Bernie needs to think about his legacy, and what will help his cause. If M4A results in four more years of Trump, it will leave a sour taste in voters’ mouths for years to come. But Biden will improve our healthcare situation if he gets elected. It’s important in politics to know when you have the votes and when you don’t.

[ucrdem]

8. I think it is over.

I expect a quiet push to make it official before the next round of primaries.

[NurseJackie]

9. He's playing very dangerous game that only benefits Trump. Any "Scorched Earth" philosophy...

... only serves to kneecap and damage Biden going forward.

[ucrdem]

10. Those tv ads worry me.

Until he officially concedes there's nothing to keep him from running them ...

[NurseJackie]

11. Surely he knows he can't win the nomination. Those ads are intended to HURT BIDEN AGAINST TRUMP.

Basically "If I can't have it, then you can't have it either" ... that's what's going on here.

[ucrdem]

12. Yes, that's what worries me.

We know and he knows it's hopeless, but what if the goal is not to win the nomination? That's why he's going to have to be pushed, and soon. I'm pretty confident it will happen in the next week or so.