"Bernie Sanders has a plan to hijack Hillary Clinton's superdelegates"

[Dawson Leery]

http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-bernie-sanders-superdelegates-20160328-story.html

[RandySF]

1. Interesting first sentence.

As the Bernie Sanders campaign accepts the reality that securing enough votes at this point to win the Democratic nomination outright is impossible, it has moved on to a new phase in its long-shot bid for the White House: hijack Hillary Clinton’s so-called superdelegates.

[NWCorona]

10. That's true for both of them.

[RandySF]

12. Nope

[NWCorona]

13. Show me a delegate model where Hillary secures enough pledged delegates to win outright.

[hack89]

24. Here

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/election-2016/delegate-targets/democrats/

[Agschmid]

27. Do you think they will read that?

[hack89]

29. Well, it does have pictures instead of hard math. nt

[Agschmid]

31. It does, nice color choices too.

But that poster actually reading it seems doubtful.

[Kalidurga]

2. He should have a plan. The campaign has been going on for months now.

[DURHAM D]

3. This plan is pretty funny. nt

[CoffeeCat]

4. This is the exact plan that Obama followed in 08--and Obama did hijack them

At the beginning of the race, nearly all of the superdelegates were for Hillary, in 08.

As the primary moved forward, Obama began winning states and some superdelegates migrated to Obama's camp.

Finally, Obama won a series of states and it was clear that he was doing extremely well. Then, the super delegates followed. They were following the will of the people, based on how the race was shaping up.

Bernie has said all along, his plan is to do very well during the second half of this race. And as we do well and close that hard-delegate gap, the superdelegates would start to fall our way.

This is pretty basic. It's totally a page out of Obama's playbook.

Except in 2008--Hillary didn't have 129 FBI agents on her tail, an IT guy that was granted immunity and an impending FBI interrogation coming her way real soon.

[geek tragedy]

5. Obama won the pledged delegate count--was never in danger of losing it.

Sanders is hoping the superdelegates will steal the election for him.

Sanders advisors argue that if they can come close to catching Clinton in votes by the time the time the primaries conclude in June -- even if they fail to overtake her -- they will be able to persuade these lawmakers and other Democratic dignitaries to reconsider their loyalties to Clinton.

This of course is pure fantasy.

[DURHAM D]

6. Good post.

And, it isn't like the super-Ds need to get to know him, they already do.

[NWCorona]

11. Show me a delegate model where Hillary secures enough pledged delegates to win outright.

For Obama, takings Hillary's supers was purely physiological

[KitSileya]

19. So, by enough delegates, do you mean 2026 or 2383?

Too many BS supporters demand the latter, even thought that includes SDs, yet use the former number for a Sanders win.

[NWCorona]

23. I mean the number needed to clinch the nomination with out the use of supers

[KitSileya]

32. So, do you consider that number to be 2026 or 2383?

it's a simple enough question, you shouldn't have a problem answering. I even gave you alternatives.

[NWCorona]

35. 2383

No need to be rude.

[KitSileya]

40. Well, I find it rude that you won't count superdelegates in a number that includes them

As in, she needs to win 2383 pledged delegates because that is half of all delegates, both pledged and super, yet those superdelegates that have endorsed her don't count. It's a double standard.

[NWCorona]

41. How was that rude to you?

I simply pointed out that neither candidate will be able to secure the nomination with just pledged delegates. Period.

[KitSileya]

44. It's a double standard, That's rude.

If she has more than half the pledged delegates - 2026, she is the winner of the primary. 65% of the superdelegates have said they support her. 4.2% have said they support Sanders. In 2008, most of the superdelegates voted for the one who won the most pledged delegates. Do you want them to vote for the one with fewer pledged delegates?

[NWCorona]

45. Why are you putting words in my mouth

Point out one post where I said Bernie should win if he doesn't gets more pledged delegates. FYI, you won't find one.

So again where's my double standard?

I happen to believe that Bernie will overtake Hillary.

[hack89]

25. Here

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/election-2016/delegate-targets/democrats/

[enid602]

7. ouch!

"He noted many of those pledged superdelegates are in Congress, where they have known Bernie Sanders for years, and he argued if they had any inclination to side with him, they would be saying so."

[cosmicone]

8. That is a plan like

using a defibrillator on a corpse. It doesn't work 100% of the time.

[onehandle]

9. Prediction. He will not be here in Philly this August.

He will cease 'being' a Democrat by election day in November.

[ibegurpard]

14. They aren't Hillary's superdelegates

They haven't actually cast votes yet and won't until the convention.

[Cheese Sandwich]

15. Holy what by the title I thought for sure this would be on the opinion page.

Nope. It's "news". Liberal media strikes again I guess.

It's not like 'Hijack' is a loaded term or anything. He wouldn't be hijacking anything. Superdelegates are free to vote for whomever.

Jeez some news rooms have no shame apparently.

[Beacool]

16. If this is their strategy, they're delusional.

"Sanders advisors argue that if they can come close to catching Clinton in votes by the time the time the primaries conclude in June -- even if they fail to overtake her -- they will be able to persuade these lawmakers and other Democratic dignitaries to reconsider their loyalties to Clinton."

First of all, he wasn't even a Democrat into he decided to run for president. Super delegates don't feel any loyalty or allegiance to him. Second, they will not hand the nomination to the candidate who is behind in pledged delegates.

They really do have a lot of gumption to even suggest that the will of the people should be ignored. Talk about undemocratic. What a bunch of hypocrites!!!

They want a revolution? They will have one in their hands if Hillary is ahead in pledged delegates and the popular vote and the nomination is handed to Sanders (not that I think this has a chance of ever happening).



Just found this:

'Plouffe added that Democratic superdelegates are not likely to change sides for Sanders, even after his wins in three states last weekend.

“And no, there is a zero percent chance the ‘super delegates’ will somehow go against the will of the voters and choose the second place candidate,” said Plouffe, who endorsed Clinton last October.'

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/274472-obama-campaign-manager-zero-chance-clinton-isnt-nominee

[Betty Karlson]

17. I though superdelegates weren't committed? How is it that normal rules never apply to Clinton?

This is like claiming he plans to "hijack" a public footpath by walking on it.

[hack89]

26. They can publicly commit to a candidate anytime they wish. Many have.

and the rules have not changed.

[Betty Karlson]

33. Well, they can change their minds without requiring a rule change, so there.

[hack89]

34. No kidding. Why would anyone think otherwise?

they will vote for the candidate that has the most pledged delegates. I don't understand what the fuss is all about.

[Betty Karlson]

36. Someone thought a superdelegate's changed mind would constitute "hijacking" something

Which is what the OP was about. Which I responded to.

[hack89]

38. Bernie thinks he can convince superdelegate to vote for him even if he is behind

doesn't that strike you as wrong and undemocratic?

[Betty Karlson]

39. Who says he will be behind by the times that happens?

[hack89]

46. Probability and history

in political terms Hillary has a near insurmountable lead. He needs to do what he has failed so far to do - achieve a blow out victory in a large state. Hillary is favored by large margins in several upcoming primaries because she has resurrected the Obama coalition and is favored by several important Democratic voting blocs, especially POC. Bernie, on the other hand, draws his support from a very narrow slice of the Democratic electorate - there is a good reason that she has such a large lead in the popular vote.

[Betty Karlson]

47. The "insurmountable lead" you speak of consists of mostly superdelegates - which are the ones who

can change their minds.

As for history: the 20th century is over, and Clinton is - as usual - one of the last to see the writing on the wall. Her coalition is low-information and conservative / wealthy voters in the south. Note how POC outside the south are NOT her firewall at all. The states answering to that description are nearly exhausted by now. Sanders has shown to win almost everywhere else. Describing that as "a narrow slice of the electorate" is a racistly flawed assessment of the social diversity of states like Washington (Sanders landslide) and Hawaïi (one of the most non-white states in the union).

In all probability, Clinton's sense of entitlement will damage the party anyway, but it would be best for the party not to let that happen all the way to November.

[hack89]

48. Absolutely not

for example, the largest lead Obama ever had in pledged delegates was about 100. Hillary has twice that number. Hillary was winning states in May of 2008 and actually led in the popular vote - and she could not over take Obama due to proportional allocation of delegates.

Sanders has yet to win in a large state with a high percentage of black and latino voters. He simply has not. He has also fail abysmally in closed primaries where only registered Democrats can vote. The upcoming big states have large numbers of black/latino voters and they are closed primaries. He has not shown that he can win anywhere.

Hillary can win this without superdelegates. They only play a major role if there is more than two candidates.

[Betty Karlson]

49. Let me put that down as: she had eight years to prepare shenanigans, and yet

Sanders keeps getting stronger with every month passing. And as for "Sanders has yet to win a a large state on a Monday Morning while seventy fairies drop a single tear from a frog into the westernmost mists" - that's how far the goalposts have to be moved to find something he hasn't arguably won yet. A few months ago, it was "maybe Vermont and nothing else".

Clinton can win this without superdelegates: she has the backing of the entire (and entirely biased) party élite.

Sanders too can win this without superdelegates: he has the people behind him, and the cross-over appeal, and the future of the Democratic Party.

[hack89]

50. I don't do CTs. Sorry. nt

[ThePhilosopher04]

20. They aren't her super delegates.

They claim to pledge for Hillary right now so they can stay in her good graces but once it becomes obvious she's a sinking ship, they'll abandon in a heartbeat. Bernie knows this.

[Gothmog]

21. Sanders plan to flip super delegates is not going to work

Sanders would be poison to down ballot candidates and Sanders is not supporting the party. The party leaders have no reason to support sanders

[tk2kewl]

22. How dare he...

The Hillary campaign has paid good money for those superdelegates

[merrily]

28. "Hijack," LOL! Is that what they called it when Obama did it in 2008? No, of course not. nt

[DrDan]

30. "Impossible"??? He should consult with some here

Who say its in the bag

[Trust Buster]

37. The Super delegates represent Democratic Governors, Congress members, state politicians

and those that make up the rest of the Democratic infrastructure. To those that think they they will shed their party loyalty and thus their careers in the Democratic Party in favor of a political carpetbagger, I can only respond by saying that I wish I had some of what you're smoking.....LOL

[MoonRiver]

43. I don't think I want any of that stuff,

cause the crash after the high will be brutal!

[islandmkl]

42. seems like many think that all these 'professional pols' are committed to anything as if

it is caste in concrete....jebus, look at what they are and how they got there...

prevailing wind is their mode of locomotion...

should there be any discernible change in direction the only thing any of them will be concerned about will be preventing whiplash from their quick change of 'commitment'....