Bernie Sanders needs to suspend his campaign now. Here's why

[wyldwolf]

I've never voted for Sanders. But I've never believed he posed a mortal threat to the republic. His bombast can be annoying, even in small doses. But Trump's deficits are genuinely terrifying, especially when a crisis highlights their severity. And while congressional and judicial oversight would almost certainly constrain Sanders' conduct as president, it's unclear that either can withstand Trump's relentless challenges to constitutional order.

After Biden's triumph on Super Tuesday II, it's unlikely that I and other Michigan voters will be forced to choose between Trump and Sanders. Although he has yet to be mathematically eliminated, Sanders' disappointing performance in Michigan all but dashes his hopes to capture the Democratic nomination.

But Sanders still has an opportunity to prove that I and others were right when we rejected those facile comparisons between him and Trump.

If Sanders believes what he has consistently argued — that Trump's tenure has been an American tragedy, and that his re-election would extinguish reproductive freedom and civil liberties while crippling efforts to expand health care, reduce economic inequality, and slow the pace of climate change, his obligation to suspend his campaign is clear.

And he needs to take that decisive step in a matter of days, not weeks, joining the rest of Biden's erstwhile rivals in a united Democratic campaign to reclaim the White House.

Every day Joe Biden spends parrying Sanders' increasingly desperate attacks on Biden's 44-year voting record is a day squandered in the campaign to hold Trump accountable for his administration's ongoing incompetence. Every news cycle consumed by arguments over Medicare-for-all is a news cycle in which Trump's evisceration of the nation's public health infrastructure goes unchallenged.

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/brian-dickerson/2020/03/11/bernie-sanders-campaign-donald-trump/5011355002/

[oldsoftie]

1. Just simply ignore his campaign & begin the campaign for the Presidency. Dont waste time.

Begin picking cabinet members. Start having meaningful discussions with possible VP picks.
Focus on trump and WINNING

[zackymilly]

16. Sounds like a plan. Biden should carry on like he is already the nominee. n/t

[karynnj]

18. I don't think he should pick the cabinet yet

It is typically considered something that is not done - though I bet any campaign in the general election is thinking about that. One reason not to do it is that campaigning and governing are very different. There should be no or at least limited political considerations in choosing the right person to lead important positions. Naming people - especially people doing a great job supporting your campaign to a degree compromises those people.

I assume that both Biden and Sanders have spent some time thinking who would be a good VP - even though neither would likely admit that they have preferred candidates. Once someone is the defacto nominee, they will talk to people who might be good and then announce the VP.

[NurseJackie]

2. His top advisors obviously view this as blood-sport and an opportunity to kneecap Biden...

His top advisors obviously view this as blood-sport and an opportunity to kneecap Biden, and to use scorched-earth political dirty tricks to damage Biden and harm his ability to compete with Trump/Russia. What good purpose does it serve? Revenge? Vanity?

[empedocles]

5. BS is the one who consistently, repeatedly, hires these awful top advisers.

[NurseJackie]

6. Yes. He knows what's going on.

[Cha]

8. It's why he hired them.. and look where they

got him.

[NurseJackie]

9. The faithful continue to donate... so there's that.

[Nikki28]

3. I do

don't think Bernie will go quietly like he did not in 2016.This man will be bitter and his ego will be too bruised. I don't know if he should drop out because it will be up to him. I wish he would,but he won't.Bernie's people will not let him even if he wanted to.The longer Sanders is in the race, the worst Trump ad Russia will stroke evil in this race.

[Cha]

4. Excellent analysis and advice.. but I have my

doubts it will be heeded.

[Iliyah]

7. Just heard this morning . . .

Senator Sanders is enthused about the debate on Sunday in AZ, and at this time will continue to campaign.

[SunSeeker]

11. What good does he think will come of it?

[zackymilly]

17. Another book deal? Another house? n/t

[Scurrilous]

10. Looking ahead there is no path for Bernie.

Biden is currently 146 delegates ahead w/ 823. He's 37% up in FL, 20.9% in Arizona, 23.6% in Ill., and 19.2% in Ohio, all next week. Then 33.7% up in Georgia the next week. No polls for Puerto Rico. Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming and Louisiana days after that have no polls either but Biden should win LA and they have as many delegates as the three others combined. But down the road further there is nowhere to pick up 146 seats. The few big states left like NY, Pennsylvania, NJ, and Wisconsin have Biden in the lead. Maryland has Bernie +4% but it's a pre-unity poll. No path is apparent.

[yardwork]

13. Michigan and California were essential States for Sanders to win big.

Sanders lost resoundingly in MI and his margin in CA is shrinking. It's clear that Biden will sweep the south, and after last night, it's clear that the Midwest supports Biden.

Biden is from Pennsylvania and still acts like it. (This is a compliment, and I'm from Ohio.) I predict he will sweep PA and NJ.

There is no path for Sanders to win the nomination.

[Scurrilous]

15. Biden's big win in Mississippi gave him 29 more delegates than Bernie.

Bernie's win in CA has him currently + 50. Mississippi negated over half of Bernie's signature win. And yes no path. None. Nada. It's hopeless.

[NYMinute]

12. Another reason - his health

[barbtries]

14. he should.

Bernie supporters instructing me to switch my support to Sanders after Warren left the race went over like a lead balloon. People don't respond well to that verbiage.
Bernie gets to choose his next moves whether or not we believe he should throw in his lot with Biden. I hope he will, but also recognize that there are a lot of voters out there who still haven't voted. If history is any guide, Bernie won't leave the race, although I did catch a tweet last night, supposedly from a credible source, that he will suspend today.

[MerryBlooms]

19. Sanders staying in the race- Biden should let his surrogates deal with Sanders.

Biden should concentrate on trump and his horrific handling of covid-19 crisis plus, trump ruining the economy Obama built.