Washington Post: Bernie's campaign is now focused on targeting whiter states

[Cali_Democrat]

Last edited Tue Mar 8, 2016, 02:01 PM - Edit history (1)

I remember when the South Carolina results were announced, he was already on a plane to Minnesota.

You can't win the Democratic nomination without minorities. It just isn't possible.

--------------------------------
Awkward reality for Bernie Sanders: A strategy focused on whiter states
By Vanessa Williams and John Wagner
March 7 at 8:30 PM

An awkward reality has defined the nominating contest between Sanders and Clinton this year: his failure to win over African American voters — or the states where they represent large portions of the electorate. As a result, Sanders in recent weeks has focused almost exclusively on winning in whiter states, where his campaign has resonated among younger and working-class voters.

<...>

Sanders has endured a series of crushing defeats in states with large black electorates. Despite heavy spending on TV and paid canvassers in South Carolina, Clinton beat him by more than 70 points among African American voters there and in Georgia — and by a whopping 85 points in Alabama. On Saturday, she won the Louisiana primary 71 percent to 23 percent, again thanks to her strong showing among black voters.

Without stating it explicitly, the Sanders campaign has made no secret of a strategy targeting whiter states. His advisers have argued repeatedly that he retained a path to the nomination that involved winning industrial — and whiter — Midwestern states. Campaign adviser Tad Devine talked about the need for the campaign to “pick our targets.”

Knowing that South Carolina wasn’t likely to tilt his way, Sanders left the state for 48 hours ahead of the primary to campaign in more heavily white states later on the calendar. He targeted five states in the run-up to Super Tuesday, all of them with relatively small black populations. He won four of them. Ahead of Saturday’s contests, Sanders did little campaigning in Louisiana. Instead, the campaign celebrated a trio of caucus conquests over the weekend in overwhelmingly white states: Kansas, Nebraska and Maine.

Read more:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/an-awkward-reality-for-bernie-sanders-a-strategy-focused-on-whiter-states/2016/03/07/311ad3e4-e412-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html

[ThePhilosopher04]

1. More blatant race baiting, this time from the WP. It's GOD DAMN DISGUSTING.

[hack89]

13. Why is it race baiting?

race will be the reason Bernie loses so it has to be a topic of discussion.

[pat_k]

67. The message to non-whites is this: Bernie is ignoring you.

That's an incredible slight against non-whites. And that = race baiting.

If he is just going to focus on the "whitest" states, then he'll be skipping over HI, DC, MD, AK, NY, DE, NC, NJ, CA, IL, and FL? (the "least white" of the 30 remaining states).

It's absurd.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446703

[hack89]

68. I think Black voters know what they think without being told

Have you considered that they have a multitude of reasons for not voting for him? Don't you think they can tell if they are being ignored?

[Pat Riots]

82. they are not being ignored

so it must be something else.

maybe black people in the south are more conservative? like the south in general?

we havent seen any vote totals from Northern, Western or eastern states with a high AA population, so wht isnt the question about Bernie struggling regionally?

i think I know the answer to that....

People like the OP are desperate to drive a wedge between working people, based on race, which is what the wealthy have always tried to do in this country.

shame.

not voting for Hillary. i do not support race baiting politicians.

[hack89]

91. What are black voters saying? Perhaps they don't think "it must be something else" nt

[katsy]

90. Who told you how to vote in this op?

The wapo is stirring up shit for Sanders.

No one is telling you or me how to vote here.

[hack89]

92. Ok I guess. Nt

[pat_k]

93. Of course. Yes. And Yes. I was referring to message. Not it's effectiveness. (nt)

[LanternWaste]

14. Discussing the targeting of demographics may often be seen as race baiting

Discussion and analysis of targeting one set of demographics over another may often be seen as race baiting-- especially from those for whom the mere discussion of race is seen as playing the race card.

Disgusting and self-serving, indeed.

[EffieBlack]

86. I figured it out - discussing race isn't race baiting. Referring to "white" people is

Folks talk about race all the time and frequently discuss POCs, blacks, minorities, etc. without batting an eye. It's only when anyone refers to "white" people that certain folks' shorts get all bunched up. Because white people aren't supposed to be identified by race - after all, they're just "people."

Get it?

[speaktruthtopower]

23. Can't blame him given the results so far but they both have good civil rights resumes

[Nye Bevan]

39. Disgusting because the story is a lie?

Or disgusting because the story is true?

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. They did not start now

this is concerted

[EffieBlack]

85. How is this race baiting?

FYI - discussing race is NOT race baiting.

[Attorney in Texas]

2. Sanders is focusing on progressive states (with good reason), but nice of you to make it racial!

[Lizzie Poppet]

11. It's become a racially-divided primary.

Which sucks, but the vote record simply can't be denied. The progressive wing of the party and a very large portion of the AA wing (obviously some black Democrats are progressives) don't see eye-to-eye on a lot issues, on priorities. That rather obvious fact doesn't get noticed much in most elections...because there's seldom a genuine progressive candidate in the mix. Bernie's candidacy has brought this division into stark contrast.

It's a serious matter for the party going forward, regardless of how this primary ends up. The party has become basically left-centrist (center-right in many progressives' reckoning, mine included). That makes it a better match, currently, with what I believe is the center-left positioning of the majority of black Democrats. That would seem to call for a new party for progressives. Of course, unless the GOP suffers a similar split (possible, as it's no less divided), that hands power to the conservatives.

[Vote2016]

43. No, it's an ideologically divided party. Please stop scapegoating African American voters for

Hillary's failure to connect with the Progressive grassroots of the party!

Progressive African Americans support Sanders while older, centrist white voters support Hillary so it is NOT a racial divide but an ideological rift!

[Lizzie Poppet]

44. I rather obviously wasn't "scapegoating" anyone.

But if that's what you got from my post, I suspect further conversation is pointless. Best of luck to ya!

[displacedtexan]

53. Kansas?

Progressive?

News to me.

[Attorney in Texas]

54. The Democrats in Kansas are -- in fact -- VERY progressive. They kicked out the state party chair a

few years ago because they found him to be too centrist.

Kansas goes Republican in most general statewide elections, but the Democrats there have great spirit and progressive values.

[PyaarRevolution]

74. Well I can tell you the DNC isn't spending jack shit.

Here or supporting us so perhaps many Democrats here are getting deprogrammed.

[Attorney in Texas]

80. The DNC is horrible. We need to sack the lot and start fresh.

[pat_k]

69. Writing off "least white" would mean writing off: HI DC MD AK NY DE NC NJ CA IL FL

Absurd.

The list in the subject is a list of the "least white" of the remaining 30 states (ranging from HI at 26.6% to FL at 78.1%).

Of course, he's gonna focus on any state with a big delegate count, regardless of "whiteness" (or even "progressiveness&quot .

It's just plain bizarre for WaPo to assert that he'd pick states to focus on based on "whiteness." I mean really! He's gonna write off NY (70.9% white)??? CA (73.5% white)???

Crazy talk.

And of course, there is no basis on which to assume he won't be focusing on a given state as the respective elections approach.

This post provides the numbers (percentage white for all the remaining states).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446703

[NurseJackie]

3. Well, that's awkward. It's *a* strategy, I suppose. But it doesn't seem like a WINNING strategy ...

... in my opinion, of course.

BY THE WAY: How many STATES does a candidate have to win in order to be the Democratic nominee?

[Chichiri]

15. One.

If you win any state with at least 100 delegates by 100%, you can lose every other state by one delegate, and still win the nomination.

Goofy, eh?

[pat_k]

70. But it ISN'T a strategy he's employing.

Writing off "least white" would mean writing off: HI DC MD AK NY DE NC NJ CA IL FL

That list is a list of the "least white" of the remaining 30 states (ranging from HI at 26.6% to FL at 78.1%).

Of course, he's gonna focus on any state with a big delegate count, regardless of "whiteness.".
It's just plain bizarre for WaPo to assert that he'd pick states to focus on based on "whiteness." I mean really! He's gonna write off NY (70.9% white)??? CA (73.5% white)???

Crazy talk.

And if you're interested. the following post provides the numbers (percentage white for all the remaining states).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446703

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. incredible..

the bs that gets posted here

[Lizzie Poppet]

5. As Hillary's has always targeted blacker ones.

Who cares? Politicians prioritize states/voters they can win.

[pat_k]

71. Thing is, he's not targeting states on "whiteness."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446854

[Pat Riots]

83. not in 2008

she was the "white" candidate then, remember?

[Lizzie Poppet]

84. Sure. I was talking about this always being her intent in _this_ campaign. (nm)

[JaneyVee]

6. Embarrassing.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Awkward...

[pat_k]

72. Not awkward. Just plain wrong.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446854

[firebrand80]

8. His campaign screwed up BIG TIME

His argument for months was that black voters would vote for him "once they got to know him." This isn't a strategy, it's burying your head in the sand. What's more, counting a modestly famous (at best) rapper and an Ivy League academic that has viciously attacked the most beloved black American since MLK as your highest profile black supporters doesn't help much.

Who was in charge of coordinating his outreach to black voters???

[pat_k]

73. That would be true if the campaign were now focusing efforts based on "whiteness." They are NOT.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446854

[DCBob]

9. I think his campaign has completely given up winning this thing.

They are now in survival mode to keep the cash coming in to pay the bills until the convention.

[cwydro]

10. I don't think he's got much traction with women either.

No way to win the nomination without minorities or women.

[azurnoir]

12. Hillary has turned this primary into a race war of sorts, she has opened a wound in the Democratic

party by doing so too, it may work to win the nomination but it could well lose her the GE

[Nonhlanhla]

17. And how exactly has Hillary turned the primary into a race war?

You sound like the Republicans who claim that Obama stirs racial divides.

[azurnoir]

24. Look around you look at the OP unless of course you're suggesting that poster is a Repuke?

[Nonhlanhla]

25. OK, I've looked

And what I see are a lot of Bernie supporters advancing all kinds of insulting theories about why Bernie is losing the AA and Latino vote. So how is that Hillary's fault? Just because she is winning those votes, while Bernie's coalition tends to be more white, it's somehow Hillary who is stirring up racial feelings?

Geez. I thought I had seen it all when it comes to the recurring tendency of some Bernie supporters to blame Hillary for everything that THEY do wrong (Steal data? Hillary's fault. Pressure Warren online? Hillary's fault. Now this.)

[azurnoir]

26. Hillary snubbed the Black community in N Mpls because there were not enough delegates at stake

for her to 'care' Bernie did not

[Nonhlanhla]

28. Where?

Snubbed? How?

Silly line of argument. By your argument, Bernie is snubbing most of the AA community by focusing his electoral strategy on whiter states.

I guess that's also Hillary's fault.

[azurnoir]

29. look it up Google could be your friend

[Nonhlanhla]

31. I don't know what N Mpls means. nt.

[azurnoir]

36. N means North Mpls is the well known abbreviation for Minneapolis

[brush]

45. You can't be serious that it's Clinton's fault that Sanders loses POC votes

Early on when he bought on Cornell West many, on this site as well, warned that that was a big mistake and would cost him votes.

West, because of his vicious attacks on Obama, is extremely disliked in much of the black community but the Sanders campaign went with it. Now it has to live with that poor choice.

There was also the assumption that concentrating on economic inequality while not addressing racial issues that POC deal with would bring blacks and Latinos along because economic inequality affects everyone.

A serious miscalculation that was as POCs have more day-to-day issues than economic inequality — try unarmed blacks repeatedly being shot down in the steet with impunity.

Now the switch to target mostly white states because of the failure of it's economic inequality only strategy in gaining minority voters is really, when you think about it, racially divisive in itself and won't be successful.

It's not smart at all. Even the repugs found that out with Romney. You can't win anymore with just the white vote. The country has changed.

Duh!

And now many Sanders supporters are blaming black people for his loses. Some even saying that Clinton's victories in southern states do not count. Way to alienated black voters in larger Midwestern industrial states who have relatives all over the South.

Not smart again.

[Number23]

61. There is no point trying to rationalize and explain. To people convinced that Sanders has run a

perfect campaign and is the perfect candidate, every single thing that shows the opposite is either dirty tricks, lies or -- as ever -- Hillary's fault.

[Chitown Kev]

66. Yeah...I'm pretty much through with it, myself

[EffieBlack]

87. But Bernie's so dreamy, it can't be his fault

[intheflow]

19. ^ This.

This whole white states vs. black states is a Clinton ploy. Another way the headline could have been have been written was "Sanders targets northern states, or swing states, or states likely to vote Democratic."

[Nonhlanhla]

27. Only if by "ploy" you mean winning. nt

[intheflow]

56. Only if by "winning" you mean dividing. n/t

[Nonhlanhla]

57. Hillary's coalition is more diverse than Bernie's

So how is she dividing?

You sound like the Republicans who believe that Obama is divisive when it comes to race.

[intheflow]

59. It was her campaign that first started the BS about Sanders not having worked for civil rights.

Misinformation and lies is a tried and true tactic of those who seek to conquer by dividing people. Very Machiavellian.

Also, I wouldn't say she's got carte blanche of the black vote. Not when she's kicked a BLM activist out of an event the activist paid to get into. Clinton will take anyone's money, but she'll only talk to rich people.

[Nonhlanhla]

63. Funny, I do not remember her campaign say that

But I'm sure you'll provide proof.

[jcgoldie]

20. wow she will do ANYTHING to get elected

Imagine... starting a "race war" by appealing to black voters and giving them a say in the process! What an opportunist!

[brush]

46. Good post. Wonder if they'll get it.

They sure didn't get Cornell West was a liability.

[Number23]

62. + a fucking million

[Pat Riots]

88. and her supporters just all happen

to dismiss his ties to the AA community at the press conference where they back Hillary? that is an accident? WP reporters just happen to decide to run false stories about photos at around the same time?
sorry. i am not buying that favors werent called, and suggestions made to go after Bernie as a phony on civil rights.
and no, i don't have proof. but it stinks to high heaven.
at least this time she hasnt referenced her opponent possible getting assassinated. but, Bernie isnt black, so maybe she thinks he is less likely to be shot in this country.
anyway, this voter thinks the racial dogwhistles are for black ears this time, not the white ones she deployed in 2008.

[lark]

32. Minorities are heavily voting for her, how does that help Repugs?

What's the logic? She's also pushing for the voter restriction laws to be lifted, so is consistent in promoting minority participation.

[azurnoir]

34. It doesn't but most of states will go red in the GE anyway

[brush]

47. Why do you guys keep repeating that? We're talking primary victories and delegate counts . . .

Last edited Tue Mar 8, 2016, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

from them to win the Dem nomination.

Is there a misunderstanding of how it works? Obama didn't need those states you call red states to win the general election so why should Clinton, or even Sanders need them?

[azurnoir]

49. well keep focusing on the small picture if you want I understand really I do

Hillary may get her turn but so did John Kerry

[brush]

50. Meaning what exactly?

Obama won in '08 and '12 without the red states you keep talking about.

What does Kerry have to do with it?

Oh, I get it now. The party that talks about penis size on it's TV debate to the nation is going to beat the dem nominee.

Okay, go with that.

[ibegurpard]

58. yup

Started the racial dogwhistles almost immediately

[Blue_In_AK]

18. I'm sick of all this racist stuff

the H campaign is bringing to this contest. Just stop it.

[Cali_Democrat]

21. You're appear to be very confused

This is analysis from the Washington Post based on Bernie's campaign schedule and statements from his campaign.

[Blue_In_AK]

22. No. No, I'm not.

Media is picking and choosing and spinning it the way they want. And if they or you think this is going to convince Bernie's supporters that he is a racist and running a racist campaign, I think you'll be disappointed. It does nothing to endear us - or at least me - to your candidate.

[Nonhlanhla]

30. No one is suggesting that Bernie is a racist

But many have said that when it comes to race issues, he is a bit tone-deaf, and he has not managed to convince the majority of AA or Latino voters to support him.

[lark]

37. Exactly!

Being a white far-leftie, I'm part of his natural constituency but I can tell you that a lot of my black friends really appreciate the Clintons and intend to vote for her. I've convinced 3 of them to vote for Bernie, but their families are still voting for HRC en mass. She and Bill have history on their side but Bernie has facts. Guess which is winning at this point? I'm hoping as Bernie does more debates, minorities will warm to him as he will bring about more fundamental change than HRC.

[Blue_In_AK]

48. Yes, obviously "history" seems to be the deciding factor,

but I still get so angry here sometimes with the insinuations, especially given the media's complicity.

[Svafa]

38. WaPo is completely in the bag for Clinton.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511441656

[whatchamacallit]

42. You know what's really sickening?

white HRC supporters cynically co-opting issues they'll only care about until Nov 8th.

[Nanjeanne]

33. I am so tired of Jeff Bezos' paper - and Jeff Bezos, sweat shop owner. eom

[KamaAina]

35. One of 16 negative stories WaPo ran about Bernie in 16 hours.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511441656

WaPo has lurched sharply rightward since it was purchased by Amazon gazillionaire Jeff Bezos.

[pat_k]

75. ...and completely false.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446854

[Nye Bevan]

40. I'm not going to criticize Bernie for this.

This is just how politics works. With finite resources for campaigning you have to target the demographics that are most receptive to you.

[pat_k]

76. He's not doing this, so no need to even consider criticizing.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446854

[rurallib]

51. Washington Post has sure turned to a piece of crap under Bezos

but what did we really expect?

[EffieBlack]

89. Except when thy run stories about Hillary Clinton's emails - then they are an unassailable source

that's cited countless times by Sanders supporters on DU.

Got it.

[SheenaR]

52. Bernie's campaign is now focused on targeting winning states- Far more accurate headline n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

55. And the states they are targeting are less diverse. nt

[SheenaR]

64. The goal is to win

I do not care who is in them.

[pat_k]

77. False

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446854

[Number23]

60. And that's probably why he's losing.

[pat_k]

78. If he were now doing it. He's not:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1446854

[pat_k]

65. So, he's ignoring HI DC MD AK NY DE NC NJ CA IL FL? (the "least white" of the 30 remaining states)

Here are the "least white" states with percentages.
----------------------
26.6% Hawaii
43.4% District of Columbia
60.5% Maryland
67.3% Alaska
70.9% New York
71.1% Delaware
71.7% North Carolina
73.4% New Jersey
73.5% California
77.7% Illinois
78.1% Florida

Do you really imagine he's really going to write off campaigning in these states? You think he's gonna skip over NY? (70.9% white) and California (73.5% white)?

How can they assume he won't focus on these "least white" states as each race approaches? That's simply impossible to know before the fact.

The conclusion in the cited article has no real basis.

Just an FYI, here are the percentage white numbers from all the remaining states by primary/caucus date:

From
http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/all-states/white-population-percentage#table


MARCH 15
---------
Florida 78.1%
Illinois 77.7%
Missouri 83.7%
North Carolina 71.7%
Ohio 83.2%

MARCH 22
---------
Arizona 84.0%
Idaho 93.7%
Utah 91.6%
MARCH 26
--------
Alaska 67.3%
Hawaii 26.6%
Washington 81.2%

APRIL 5
---------
Wisconsin 88.1%%


APRIL 9
-------
Wyoming 92.7%

APRIL 19
---------
New York 70.9%

APRIL 26
---------
Connecticut 81.6%
Delaware 71.1%
Maryland 60.5%
Pennsylvania 83.2%
Rhode Island 85.6%

MAY 3
-------
Indiana 86.3%

MAY 10
-------
West Virginia 93.8%


MAY 17
-------
Kentucky 88.5%
Oregon 88.1%


JUNE 7
-------
California 73.5%
Montana 89.5%
New Jersey 73.4%
New Mexico 82.9%
South Dakota 85.9%
North Dakota 89.6%

JUNE 14
-------
District of Columbia 43.4%

[djean111]

79. Oh, another hit piece from the Washington POS.

What else is new.

[beachbum bob]

81. pretty close to whats happening with sanders campaign

he is not an attractive candidate for minorities or people over 50.....the voting demographics prove that out