The Hill has a story currently up about the IA caucuses and how O’Malley, or more specifically his supporters, have possibly a big role to play before the voting over.
That’s because caucus rules require that in most precincts, candidates with less than 15 percent support are not considered “viable,” so their supporters have to abandon that candidate and choose their second-best option unless they want to vote “uncommitted.”
It’s been pretty obvious to anyone watching the Democratic debates that O’Malley doesn’t like Hillary taking money from Wall Street anymore than Bernie does, and his supporters are quite likely to feel the same way.
one recent poll, from Public Policy Polling, includes analysis of O’Malley supporters’ second choice. That poll shows Sanders holding a substantial lead over Clinton there, 43 percent to 20 percent.
If Hillary’s experience was a draw for O’Malley supporters, one would think they’d already be in her camp, but clearly, he offers them something Clinton does not. His platform is much closer to Senator Sanders than to Secretary Clinton’s.
Rania Batrice, Sanders’s Iowa spokeswoman, told The Hill she believes there is an “interest” among O’Malley supporters to “be prepared with a second choice if it goes down to that.”
“Across the state, we have folks who are currently O’Malley supporters who come out to hear the senator speak,” she said.
The PPP’s second choice result is “not so surprising because there is common ground,” she added, “but we are not going to take anything for granted. We are having conversations all across the state with our own supporters, with O’Malley supporters, with folks who are still undecided because a caucus is not just like walking in and casting a ballot.”
Some suggest that O’Malley is holding out for a VP slot, but I see that as pretty unlikely. Sanders would not need him, as their platforms are very close to each others, and Hillary is much more likely to pick someone much friendly to Wall Street so their messages don’t clash.
Aides to the Clinton campaign declined multiple requests for comment.
With polls already so close, the few % that O’Malley does have could swing this either way.
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