How far can things tip without being able to tip back?

[MineralMan]

That's a question I've been thinking about this week. Today, one poll shows Hillary's national lead shrinking. One poll. Another poll shows Sanders lead shrinking in NH. One poll.

For the first poll, a lot of people are celebrating. For the second, another group is celebrating. What does it all mean?

It means that the rhetoric is heating up. How hot can that rhetoric get before some people are not able to step back in case things don't turn out as they hope? It's a concern. There are more important issues than which Democrat is the nominee, frankly.

I'm in the Clinton camp for the primaries. I look at the list of states and their delegates, and am still very optimistic about her chances of becoming the nominee. Despite polling fluctuations at the national level and strong odds that she won't win in NH, Vermont, and maybe might lose a couple of other states, the delegate count still looks good for her, I think.

However, there's always a possibility that Bernie Sanders will pull off a surprise and end up with the nomination. I'm quite prepared for that, and am ready to support him enthusiastically in the general election if that turns out to be the case. I'm not calling him names or trashing him over anything. I'd find it difficult to support him later if I were doing that. I don't think he's the perfect candidate, but I don't think Hillary is perfect, either.

I'm not going to tip so far that I would look stupid for supporting Sanders if he gets the nomination. I think that's the smart thing to do. Either of our two candidates would be so far superior to any of the Republicans that I'm not going to shut any doors. It's not up to me, anyhow. One of the two Democrats will be on the ballot in November. I can find no possible reason to vilify either of them, nor to slam any doors to my enthusiastic support of a Democratic nominee. So, I won't do that.

Others may feel differently. I hope not too many. I hope few people tip so far that they can't tip back. That would be truly unfortunate, either way. Every presidential nomination is a balancing act. Let's not tip over.

[DesertFlower]

1. i agree. nt

[MineralMan]

2. Thanks. I think many agree, really.

[DesertFlower]

3. sometimes i wonder. some of

the comments i read here scare me.

i know if hillary wins bernie will ask his supporters to support her. same if bernie wins. hillary will give him her support.

[marybourg]

7. Hillary and Bernie

are acting appropriately. It's their supporters, many of them right here on DU, but also on other social media, who are going way too far and who will hurt us in the general when their writings and mouthings are played back by the REAL opponent.

[DesertFlower]

8. you're right. i've seen it on

facebook too.

[Android3.14]

4. Welcome home

Coffee's in the kitchen.

[MineralMan]

6. I've been home all along.

I can't count the number of times I've said I'll enthusiastically campaign for whoever is the nominee. I have never said anything else. We have two good candidates for President. I have one primary (caucus) vote. I won't be making the decision. Voters will decide who will be the nominee. I'm a Democrat. I'll be on board, either way. I've never implied anything else. That's the very least I can do.

[Motown_Johnny]

5. They are tipping back now. Hillary never should have had such high numbers.

It was mostly name recognition and the absence of opponents.

Now that Bernie is getting national exposure, the national polls are closer to where they should have always been.

The New Hampshire race tends to break late. It isn't unusual to see polls swing in the last week before the primary. Honestly, Bernie's numbers probably never should have been that high either. We will know for sure in a few days.

[MineralMan]

9. New Hampshire is one state out of 50.

It also has very few delegates to send to the convention. There is far to go in this primary season. Anyone who doesn't recognize that is taking a very narrow view of the process. I'll be watching the delegate count as time goes by. As a spectator, of course. I only get one vote, and don't believe that I will have any effect whatever on the outcome.

[DesertFlower]

10. many didn't think anyone

would run against her. that's probably why the poll numbers were so high. it might be the reason for the timing of the debates too.

[kydo]

11. What you wrote pretty much somes up my feeling on this

Great post!

[MineralMan]

12. Thank you very much.