I'll put it out there: Biden DOESN'T have to make a play for Sanders' voters...

[brooklynite]

In his speech today, Bernie Sanders claimed his campaign had won the "ideological debate" and said that Biden and the DNC needed to respond to to the issues his base voters cared about. I'm going to say: no he doesn't.

In 2016, Clinton arguably needed (and didn't get) Sanders voters on the left, BECAUSE she lost marginal centrist voters (Independents and Republicans) in the Battleground States; voters who had supported Obama but either didn't like Clinton personally or were fed up with politicians from both Parties and decided to try a "businessman".

In 2020, those marginal centrist voters are gettable by Biden because they've seen what President Trump is like and don't wan't another four years of this. They're open to a safe, moderate Democratic choice (like they had in the 2018 House races) but aren't looking for a "revolution". Those (still under-voting) people on the left are also far less likely to be in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin; and we don't need more voters from NY and California.

Doesn't mean Biden can't be accomodating to the broad issues that voters on the left care about, but he doesn't need to re-craft his policy proposals to make them happy.

[Yavin4]

1. I would also add that we are now in a crisis much like 2008

And also like 2008, people are scared to death. In a crisis, people want steady leadership which means that Trump is done.

[Awsi Dooger]

25. Crisis but not like 2008

Nearly 8 months from election day and still tons of uncertainty. The number of cases will rise and the markets will continue to plunge. That's the next 2 months or so. Beyond that and I'm not confident which direction this goes. Not enough data from other countries or any similar recent virus.

I know people don't want to hear this but it's not impossible Trump ends up looking good coming out of this. All of these canceled events from the NCAA and NBA, etc. actually work in his favor if the numbers fall well shy of some of the extreme projections. Once we're in summer and this thing is seen as "contained" then the market rebounds and Trump is chirping wildly as his approval goes back up. It briefly reached 44.6% on 538 about a month ago.

In 2008 Bush had been stuck in very low sustained approval since Katrina in August 2005. There were obvious problems with declining home sales. The Fed stepped in several times with various measures. But it wasn't until mid September with the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy that the market began to plunge as global panic triggered. Obama was going to win anyway but that exploded the margin. We were never going to win states like North Carolina and Indiana minus the financial crisis.

If this were mid September 2020 instead of mid March then I would share the confidence about Trump's fate. Eight months away I can't do anything of the sort. I always default to the situational landscape as vastly more significant than anything else. Variables capture attention in both directions but that incumbency only works one way, as extreme benefit of a doubt especially if the party has only been in power one term.

Trump's approval rating is all that matters. I don't care about the vice presidential nominee or turnout or Sanders supporters or anything else in comparison to where that number is on election day.

[NYMinute]

2. I totally agree

If they want to enable Trump because their wee feelings are hurt, fuck them.

[lees1975]

3. But I think he should be accommodating

because he needs to unify the party and make sure that the Republicans take a beating, not only for the White House, which is looking like a big win, but to pick up about seven or eight senate seats and keep the house along the way. It's all in the cards, so to speak. Why risk that? Bernie has offered some pretty good stuff. Let him get a lot of it into the Dragonwouth.

[questionseverything]

23. he should do it because it is the right thing to do

I would love to see more on joe's public option, the numbers and what they would be. I think a generous public option detailed would be seen as an olive branch between the 2 camps.

[OnDoutside]

26. I disagree. If Biden does nothing else on the Democratic platform

he's going to get at least the number of Sanders voters who voted for Clinton, in fact probably more due to the fact of NOT being Hillary, plus he doesn't scare off the moderate Republicans and Independents.... and it is clear with the huge increase in turnout compared to 4years ago, he's doing. He has far more to lose than to gain by conceding ground to the far left, when there's no need to.

And remember, if the Dems win a blowout election, they can go a lot further.

[Cha]

4. Exactly.. Hillary made concessions and it wasn't even appreciated

Doesn't mean Biden can't be accomodating to the broad issues that voters on the left care about, but he doesn't need to re-craft his policy proposals to make them happy.

[showblue22]

6. The more attention they got the more demanding and aggressive they were.

[Cha]

9. Yeah, so I have no more patience. BS didn't "win"

anything.. The voters have spoken and the youth vote didn't come out for him like they were suppose to for his "30%" coalition.

[showblue22]

5. This is 100% right

Hillary tried really hard to appease them. She included them, they were a big part of the platform debate. It just made matters worse. The more attention they got, the more aggressive. disruptive, and nasty they were.

[Cha]

10. BS even got cornel west on the planform and he

voted and campaigned for jill ******* stein.

[showblue22]

15. I remember

The convention was a shit show. I hope Joe shuts them out. Why? They don't know how to behave in a respectful manner.

[Cha]

16. Amen!

[winstars]

7. I totally agree with what you are saying, as usual!!!

Especially this:

Doesn't mean Biden can't be accomodating to the broad issues that voters on the left care about, but he doesn't need to re-craft his policy proposals to make them happy.

[questionseverything]

24. he needs to explain how his policies address their needs

[Jarqui]

8. Nonsense. Who do you want, Biden or Trump?

End of discussion.

I loved Bernie's policies in 2016. But it ain't 2016 anymore.

We need to get the incompetent criminal out of the White House.
That is the most important "political revolution" for today.

Even Bernie admits, the majority of Democrats want Joe Biden because he gives us the best chance to defeat Trump.

The other things, like M4A, Biden has alternatives that are more likely to pass. They don't go as far as Barnie's policies do but they move the progressive ball down the field.

If Trump wins reelection, none of the other stuff matters.

Joe Biden proved he was clearly much stronger in Michigan than Bernie. That is a key battleground state. Joe Biden was born and raised in Scranton, PA is is two digits ahead of Bernie there. He's also ahead of Trump there. Swing those two states, along with Hillary's states and you've got a tie EV vote. Trump has to run the table and he's behind Biden in many other battleground states - like Ohio, Florida, North Carolina or Arizona - where Bernie is not as strong. That's why Trump is so afraid of Joe.

[Hoyt]

11. If they don't get it, tough. I believe Sanders' supporters are smart, and get it.

But, we won’t know for sure until November.

I’m shocked we even have to worry about whether Sanders’ supporters will sit home or vote in a manner that helps trump and GOPers.

[Demguy81]

12. I think its a balance

between crafting policies and sending Sanders' voters the message that you hear their concerns and will be their warrior in the WH, the latter is probably more important.

Joe has the second one down far more than Clinton ever could, so he's already well positioned to do that. Crafting policies would be more difficult. I certainly don't expect Joe to become Bernie, but a combination of Joe's knack for connecting with voters and some minor policy calculations would pay off in spades.

[sop]

13. When did voting become like choosing a spouse?

When did it become necessary to fall in love with a candidate, seemingly only after being passionately courted for months and having sweet nothings constantly whispered into one's ear? Christ, we're just casting a vote for the individual who most closely mirrors our political views, even if only a little bit.

I miss the days when voters grasped what each party fundamentally stood for, understood which party would act in their best interest, and then voted accordingly. Just choose the candidate who will do the least harm, if it comes to that. It's not rocket surgery

[squirecam]

14. Agreed

Nt

[ismnotwasm]

17. Agree.

[PJMcK]

18. Excellent analysis

Biden will coalesce the voters.

Bernie needs to sit down.

[Midnight Writer]

19. Biden needs to be true to himself and true to the American people. That's what got him here.

I believe most Sanders voters will vote in everyone's best interest in the general.

[onetexan]

20. I agree. As i've said elsewhere, the 2 traits of Bernie's young supporters

Are petulance & impetuosity. Of course given their voting age theyre expected to be more mature & sensible and make the better decision. We haven't seen that from them. With them its my way or the highway. You just have to let them suck it up & come to their senses on their own. No amount of concessions will do if they continue to be petulant & threaten not to vote for Biden. You can lead a horse to water but u cant make it drink.

[Vivienne235729]

21. +10000 EXACTLY!!

[Ohio Joe]

22. Like me... I expect the overwhelming majority will happily vote for Joe

Yet I still fully support Bernies stance on many issues... Joes as well. I will continue to work towards what is best for all.

[JackSabbath]

27. ???

What Sanders voters? Judging by the primary results he doesn't have any

[blue-wave]

28. Let Joe be Joe

Let the Democratic Party be the Democratic Party.

You are spot on. We need to be ourselves and present the Democratic Party and Presidential candidates' vision for our country. After four years of insane and inept attempts to run our country, most people understand that four more years of the same insanity will destroy our country completely.

We Democrats are NOT the enemy.