Let’s say Bernie Sanders convinces the superdelegates to ignore the voters and make him the Democratic nominee. The superdelegates do this because they love Bernie’s favorables. The man’s a Trump-killer. More popular than Pope Francis and Oprah Winfrey put together.
So what happens to Bernie’s favorables after he “wins” this way? Well, it’s hard to imagine them not cratering. Hard-core Sanders supporters will be happy, of course. So will Karl Rove. But Trump will have a field day. (He may tweet himself to death.) The pundits will be brutal. Fair-minded Republicans and independents will reassess him. His shiny new party will look rigged. And as for the millions of Democrats who just got told their votes are worthless...Yikes.
I would expect Bernie’s favorables to bottom out in Trump territory. He’ll certainly be less popular than Hillary Clinton, who at least — you know — won. (Bernie may have to choose her as his running mate. To shore up his favorables.)
The Sanders superdelegate strategy is nonsensical and embarrassing on so many levels. It’s hurting his brand. He’s better off going out with dignity running on his California landslide strategy.