General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The imminent backlash of the Democratic Left. [View all]Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Hell, a lot of New England used to be a comfortable Republican Stronghold, the old Rockefeller Republicans (fiscal conservative social liberals), were of that group. Southern Democrats pretty much moved into the Republican Party making the South a Republican Stronghold. Changes in the make up of parties is not uncommon.
If the left leaves, the Democratic Party will cobble votes from more centrist and center right types, especially if the Republican Party fails to pull back from the Tea party extremists (who were a far right wing backlash on what they saw as a too liberal Republican Party.) and religious extremists who have become the core of their party.
Also, with the current make up of Congress there is nothing that the Democratic Party could do to appeal to the "left." As long as Republicans control the House of Representatives, they are not going to pass any legislation the left would find acceptable.
It isn't the party leadership that chooses the Presidential Candidate in a primary. I think it is close to 100% that Hillary will run for the nomination. Warren may or may not run against her. (Unless something happened over Christmas vacation, she maintains that she is not running.) Bernie Sanders might run for President, but he will not be in the Democratic Primary since he isn't a Democrat.
If the left were a muscular, coordinated force, they would be courted by the Democratic Party. But they do not act in a coordinated way. There was no mass Leftward movement to primary unacceptable centrist and center right Democrats. The tea party has had an enormous affect on the country in this century. The left has been AWOL.
If Clinton runs and wins the nomination, it certainly won't be with the help of the left. But the Democratic party leadership will not decide their candidate in smoke filled rooms. It will be decided by a majority of the Democratic Party that gets out and votes.