Why are some Sanders supporters saying that he hasn't dropped out of the race?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

They point out that he "suspended" his campaign, which is par for the course for when all of the other candidates have ended their campaigns, but they think that he is still in contention for the race and will resume his campaign when the current COVID-19 Pandemic crisis is over (but we actually don't even know when that will be of course). Is this just denial or misunderstanding? I kind of want to point this out to them but they're hopping mad about Sanders and talking revolution and protests right now and I just don't really want to get into it with them, really. He *is* out of the race and no longer seeking the nomination, isn't he? Or did I totally miss something somewhere?

[LongtimeAZDem]

2. Because he hasn't, really; he's still on the ballot, still trying to win delegates, and his staff is

still attacking Biden.

Unless he abandons that course of action, and puts his support behind Biden, the attacks will continue, and our chances of defeating Trump will be weakened.

And, since he talks about "leverage" for influencing the platform, it is clear that he has no intention of abandoning that course.

[Claustrum]

3. Sanders specifically told his supporters to continue to vote for him in the primaries

Sanders specifically told his supporters to continue to vote for him in the primaries so that he can still get more delegates for "leverage" in the convention and the platform.

So in essence, some of his supporter take it as "he suspended but not really".

[Hortensis]

4. :) Because their lives lose political purpose without a dissident

leader to follow? At this point, they haven't the slightest idea of who might replace him someday.

Worse, the nation could get much happier and healthier under 8 years of liberal Democratic government and their best chance to overthrow our "the establishment" gone, for maybe the rest of their lives. Grim, grim thought.

[Historic NY]

5. And his people are getting nastier....

so its not all Russian bots...

[mikelgb]

6. I'm hearing it more here from Biden supporters, ad nauseam

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Really?

Why?

[mikelgb]

11. yes really, but I don't know why they do it

[jberryhill]

7. For the same reason people think Jesus rose again

Or Elvis, for that matter.

Denial.

[The Magistrate]

9. Several Reasons, Ma'am

People suspend a campaign rather than shut it down because their campaign has debts to vendors and loans outstanding, and can continue to collect contributions legally while in this 'suspended' state. This is normal political behavior by normal political figures.

The 'Bernie' campaign sweeps up a number pf people who are unfamiliar with political usages, and on the whole quite naive about the process. Such people may well genuinely not understand what is going on.

There are deliberate efforts made to aggravate tensions by trolling, and by loosing bots. Suggesting the 'Bernie' campaing 'really' continues would contribute to this.

Sanders has himself made it easy for both these things, by asking his followers to continue voting for him where he appears on a ballot, so he may have more delegates and so more 'leverage' at the convention to get platform planks and rules changes he hopes to force Democrats to adopt. To put it bluntly, that is saying his campaign continues, in recognizable form, though he acknowledges he will not be the candidate for President.





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[beachbumbob]

10. its russian bots

[brush]

12. Most, if not all of the other candidates "suspended" their campaigns too.

Too many Sanders supporters just relish fighting Democrats when trump's craziness if in their face 24/7.