2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: There are two types of Bernie Sanders supporters [View all]Vote2016
(1,198 posts)Elizabeth Warren to run, and when she didn't but Sanders did, we have been really pleased with his movement and the issues he raises. We're still pulling for Sanders to win the nomination, but if he doesn't win, we will vote Hillary or write-in Sanders or vote Jill Stein depending on what vote advances this movement.
If Hillary picks a progressive running mate, puts progressives on the platform and rules committees, does not breach her promises to progressives by "turning to the right" for the general election, and gives Sanders or other representatives of the FDR-Warren-Sanders wing of the party a prominent role at the convention, we're totally an board and will campaign for her.
Even if she doesn't do this, if the race is close and we live in one of the couple of states where a vote for Hillary might make a difference between a disappointing Hillary administration and a disastrous Trump administration, we'll pinch out noses, but if the race isn't that close generally or in our states, we won't feel any need to pinch our noses. Under these circumstances, some will write-in Sanders and some will vote Jill Stein.
You also ignore those who are desperately left behind by the economic recovery that has left so many out in the cold. These people need change. They are holding a losing and need to shuffle the deck to get a new deal. They love the chance Sanders advocates, and they see that Hillary doesn't get it. Trump gets that the current system is totally broken for them and he offers change (not the change they want from Sanders but at least a reshuffling of the deck), and Hillary is the country's number one figure arguing for the status quo establishment. "Change" is the number one issue and sometimes the only issue for these people. Some will vote for Trump if the choice is Hillary versus Trump.