The Coronavirus Response Team delivered an important message on Tuesday morning, but Democratic voters delivered their own important message on Tuesday night: It’s over, Bernie Sanders. The time has come to step aside and call it a contest.
Politics
Democratic voters went to the polls on Tuesday in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois (Ohio has been postponed until June) and overwhelmingly decided that Joe Biden should be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. Mr. Biden won Arizona 44.5% to 31.1%, Florida 61.7% to 22.9%, and Illinois 59.1% to 36.1%. This victory comes a week after Biden racked up huge wins in Michigan (58% to 38.1%), Mississippi (81% to 14.9%), Missouri (60.1% to 34.6%), Idaho (48.9% to 42.5%), and Washington (37.9% to 36.5%). As of this writing, Joe Biden currently has 1,147 of the required 1,991 delegates needed for the nomination, while Bernie Sanders has 861.
At this point, the math for Sen. Sanders is virtually insurmountable. Biden is ahead by nearly 300 delegates and roughly 800 shy of the magic number needed for the nomination. It’s over, Bernie.
Sure, Bernie Sanders could repeat 2016 and remain in the race until the bitter end. However, 2020 is not 2016. The coronavirus has upended the entire world and certainly, all of politics. Bernie can no longer hold huge rallies, or shake hands, or meet with voters in person to rally them to his cause. Upcoming states are considering postponing primary elections in order to adhere to CDC requirements to self-quarantine and avoid large groups during this global pandemic.
So, what’s the point of Sanders staying in the race if he can’t change the math? How can he convince voters to support his cause if he can’t even campaign?
Bernie Sanders has a huge decision to make. He can stay in the race, allow Democrats to remain divided just like in 2016, and possibly hurt Joe Biden as he morphs into general election mode against Donald Trump. Or, Sanders can recognize he doesn’t have the math, the voters in such important states as Florida, Michigan, and Texas have spoken, and that he can save Americans from having to risk contracting coronavirus while going to the polls just to vote in an election that’s already decided.
In the coming days, the Biden and Sanders camps should meet and work out a deal agreeing that Joe Biden is the last man standing and that the nomination is his. Then, the Democratic Party will be free to cancel the remaining primary elections to focus on bolstering the Biden campaign for the bitter war to come against Donald Trump in November, as well as to protect voters from going to the polls (unnecessarily) during this deadly coronavirus global pandemic.
If Sanders is the patriot he claims to be and if his true ultimate goal is to take out Donald Trump by any means necessary, then it’s over, Bernie, and time to go!
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If Sanders is the patriot he claims to be and if his true ultimate goal is to take out Donald Trump by any means necessary, then it’s over, Bernie, and time to go! […]-DJ
Yep. That’s it in a nutshell. Great post DJ, on all points made, beginning with this:
[At this point, the math for Sen. Sanders is virtually insurmountable. Biden is ahead by nearly 300 delegates and roughly 800 shy of the magic number needed for the nomination.]
And frankly if Ohio had voted yesterday, Biden’s delegates count would be even larger.
A short while ago, CNN reported that Bernie and his advisers will “assess” his campaign sometime today.