It is true that there is a possibility that Bernie Sanders can still become the Democratic Party nominee. Baring unanticipated events which would lead Hillary Clinton to withdraw or her losing most of her super-delates, the math is decidedly in favor of Hillary. There is no chance that Bernie doesn’t know the mathematical odds.
That leaves us with only a few iterations of the possible reasons he is staying in the race, all of them more or less likely. Some may be more important to him than others. We are only left to speculate.
- As noted above, he could be making sure that if Hillary either has to withdraw for health reasons or something comes up seriously wounding her politically, he is there ready, willing and certainly able to run in her stead. This is the only reason he absolutely must stay in in the race.
- Bernie may believe that the longer he gets his message out the more likely is that Hillary will genuinely, not merely cosmetically, shift her views on the few but important issues she holds positions which are different than Bernie’s. I want to believe that Hillary is genuinely willing to alter her views on some issues where she has differed with Bernie. I doubt Bernie thinks that getting his positions into a party platform at the convention is worth the paper it’s printed on.
- While Bernie would never admit this, he may want to continue to keep the excitement level of his supporters going at a fever pitch so when the election comes he can use his charisma and powerful influence to make sure these people stayed politically engaged.
- Bernie knows that if Hillary becomes president his own role in the body politic will extend far beyond just being one of the most influential Democrats in Congress. He will be a go-to talker all over the media, not only as long as he is in office but after he retires like my own former congressman Barney Frank has. The influence he will have should he want to criticize Hillary in the media is significant. All he needs to do is pen an OpEd for the Washington Post, New York Times, or Wall Street Journal and every media news outlet including Fox, and even late night talk shows, will clamor for an interview.
- As long as Bernie scores major wins like he did in some states (correction- I previously said Minnesota where Hillary won in the caucus) where commentators were using the word of the moment, shellacking, to describe her loss, he is adding to the clout he will have over policy and positions if Hillary becomes president.
- Bernie knows that Hillary knows that if she is president she will need Bernie’s approbation for positions anathema to Republicans. He also knows that she knows that if Bernie comes out against her on any issue it will have far more impact than any criticism coming for a Republican.
Bernie should stay in the race until the end. I hope "the end" doesn’t become “the bitter end.” Instead, it will benefit Democrats in the general election if the primary ends without bitterness.
