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Gothmog

(145,910 posts)
27. What Happens If Bernie Wins Iowa and New Hampshire?
Tue Jan 12, 2016, 01:22 PM
Jan 2016

Here is another good analysis that agrees with Nate Silver http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/01/11/bernie_sanders_could_win_iowa_and_new_hampshire.html

What would not change, though, is that Clinton would remain the clear favorite for the Democratic nomination.

Even if Hillary staggers out of New Hampshire with her second loss in as many contests, she’ll still have the same massive advantages she enjoys today: the campaign and super PAC cash, the ground game, the endorsements, the pledged superdelegates, and the general support of a party establishment that won’t soon forget that her challenger is not technically even a part of the Democratic Party. An unexpected loss in Iowa and a less surprising one in New Hampshire wouldn’t change that.

She’d also have a chance to get back on her feet—and fast. Consider what comes next: Nevada (Feb. 20) and South Carolina (Feb. 27), two significantly more diverse states than lily-white Iowa and lily-whiter New Hampshire, and two places where Clinton currently enjoys massive leads in the polls. According to the RealClearPolitics rolling average, Clinton holds a 20-point advantage in Nevada and a whopping 40-point lead in South Carolina. March brings better news still for the former secretary of state, starting with a Super Tuesday slate that includes friendly territory in the form of southern states like Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The rest of the month, meanwhile, includes several big, delegate-rich contests that she won eight years ago during her battle with Barack Obama: Michigan, Florida, and Ohio. Yes, Sanders could have the momentum this time next month, but it’ll be on him to to find a way to keep it as he heads into significantly more challenging terrain than Iowa or New Hampshire, which were always going to offer his best chance at pulling off an early upset or two.

None of this is to say that Clinton has the nomination locked up already. She doesn’t. But if Iowa and New Hampshire are must-wins for anyone, it’s Sanders. Hillary can—and likely would—survive a slow start and still be the one standing on stage at the Democratic National Convention when the balloons come down this summer. Bernie, though, has no such margin of error.

Sanders is doing well in states with 90+% white voting populations and these states are not sufficient for Sanders to win the nomination. There are four states where Sanders is polling well: Utah, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont. Texas alone has almost twice the number of delegates as these four states combined.

Sanders need to expand his base beyond the current very narrow demographic. Otherwise, he will not be the nominee
It would prove to those who think Sanders doesn't have a chance... Ino Jan 2016 #1
...and therefore, we should all vote for Clinton now to avoid a damaging primary battle. DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2016 #3
The NH primary is not winner take all leftofcool Jan 2016 #2
| was referring to vote totals and perceptions Armstead Jan 2016 #4
defacto tie = for the most part, square one. emulatorloo Jan 2016 #5
What happens? President Martin O'Malley, that's what happens. FSogol Jan 2016 #6
That's exactly what I was thinking. DavidDvorkin Jan 2016 #9
Your lips to God's ears (nt) Recursion Jan 2016 #39
A tie is a victory for Sanders. Maedhros Jan 2016 #7
+10000000 azmom Jan 2016 #12
Sanders is polling well in four states with over 90+% white voting populations Gothmog Jan 2016 #29
California may decide who wins RobertEarl Jan 2016 #8
I think it will be decided before California but Le Taz Hot Jan 2016 #22
Have there been any polling showing Latino voters moving into the Sanders camp? Gothmog Jan 2016 #30
LOL! Le Taz Hot Jan 2016 #32
So there is no such polling Gothmog Jan 2016 #33
Then the new fundraising will have a big impact. Motown_Johnny Jan 2016 #10
Anything less than a Hillary blow out of Sanders.... Joe the Revelator Jan 2016 #11
It will help Sanders brentspeak Jan 2016 #13
Her surrogates are at work kenfrequed Jan 2016 #14
Politics is nerve-wracking. nt senz Jan 2016 #15
Super Tuesday will tell the tale, regardless of outcome in the early states Godhumor Jan 2016 #16
Agreed Gothmog Jan 2016 #31
The the gloves will come off anigbrowl Jan 2016 #17
The early primaries and caucuses, like all of the ones that follow MineralMan Jan 2016 #18
I am aware of all that. But actual vote totals matter Armstead Jan 2016 #21
They do. They determine how the delegates are allocated. MineralMan Jan 2016 #23
We're looking for the primaries to settle or at least set the tone of [DU]. randome Jan 2016 #19
It'll do that too, ultimately but I hope you're not saying votes in the primary don't matter Armstead Jan 2016 #20
The votes matter if these vote are in states that represent the demographics of the Democratic party Gothmog Jan 2016 #28
That would be, advantage Clinton... ljm2002 Jan 2016 #24
Once minorities become a factor...it's over for Sanders. nt LexVegas Jan 2016 #25
Even if Sanders wins both Iowa and New Hampshire, he will not be the nominee Gothmog Jan 2016 #26
What Happens If Bernie Wins Iowa and New Hampshire? Gothmog Jan 2016 #27
It would be a sad commentary on our system if it boils down to this Armstead Jan 2016 #34
Sanders needs to expand his base in order to get the nomination Gothmog Jan 2016 #35
Bernie Sanders can win Iowa and New Hampshire. Then what? Gothmog Jan 2016 #36
Then there will be additional primaries, MineralMan Jan 2016 #37
As an O'Malley supporter this is pretty much my only hope (nt) Recursion Jan 2016 #38
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