Reply #76: If there's anything to this, I hope it plays out well. [View All]

[TacticalPeek]

I think that the next several weeks are the chance for maximum influence by the only populist progressive with any delegates. I plan to vote for him next month because I think if he picked up a few more delegates, it would strengthen his hand assuming Clinton and Obama stay neck and neck, which most analysts expect. At that point, 40 or 50 delegates could tip the balance, and that sort of convention/pre-convention alliance is somewhat in keeping with tradition and expected.

If he endorses before the coming big state primaries, that places the emphasis on his endorsement decision rather than the delegates he's won. It gives the appearance of a short-circuiting, backroom deal, so that if he gets appointed AG or whatever, critics will tarnish the position by always casting his actions as payoff and payback from the election. No matter that compromising and deal-making are part and parcel of politics, the media has their way of jerking the public nose ring toward whatever frame suits their owners' purpose.

I'm confident he'll play it smart, whatever he does.