Bernie Sanders' Secret Weapon in New York

[Octafish]

The Working Families Party has lent its considerable mobilizing power to the Democratic challenger's campaign.

—By Pema Levy
Mother Jones | Mon Apr. 18, 2016 6:00 AM EDT

As Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton battle for a win in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary in New York, Clinton's home state advantage has given her an edge in the polls, but Sanders has a secret weapon.

It's called the Working Families Party, a progressive party backed by labor unions and community activists whose New York chapter has gone all-in for Sanders. The party is known across the state and particularly in New York City for its impressive get-out-the-vote efforts. If Sanders tops Clinton in her home state or even beats expectations and comes close, he will have the WFP to thank.

In New York, where the party was founded in 1998, it has become a major presence. Third parties enjoy substantial influence in the Empire State due to fusion voting, which lets candidates appear on the ballot for multiple parties. At times, the WFP runs its own candidates; at others, it backs progressive Democrats in primary races. In Tuesday's Democratic primary, only registered Democrats, not the small number of progressives registered with the WFP, can vote for the Democratic nominee. The party's biggest successes have come in New York City, where WFP-backed candidates hold substantial power, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

"They have the best political operation in New York," says Bill O'Reilly, a Republican consultant in the state. "They are a mighty machine."

For months, the party has been engaged in voter outreach on Sanders' behalf—knocking on doors, phone banking, talking to local leaders, and helping Sanders draw local endorsements. Bill Lipton, the WFP's New York state director, says the party has been able to use the momentum behind Sanders to recruit thousands of volunteers. The WFP recently helped the campaign draw 1,500 supporters to a rally in Brooklyn, where it was able to recruit hundreds of volunteers. "Like 600 or 700 of them, two hours later they were out door knocking with canvass sheets," says Lipton.

CONTINUED...

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/04/bernie-sanders-has-secret-weapon-new-york

[RandySF]

1. But are they registered Democrats?

[Skink]

3. Bet you'd like to know

[Dragonfli]

7. Most all that vote the working families party ticket option are Democrats and nearly all

those they endorse are (actually all, with very few local race exceptions) Democrats.

They are an endorsement collective more so, than a Party in the way that the Greens are.

A minuscule, and I mean microscopic number of people actually join them as a party member, and those are only Independents choosing to make it clear what sort of Independent they are.

http://workingfamilies.org/states/new-york/

Issues
Endorsements

[RDANGELO]

2. I have heard of the WFP.

It's funny that the media never mentions them in connection to this primary.

[Dragonfli]

8. Can't speak to other areas, but most Democrats I know in my area, habitually vote

WFP straight ticket to help them sort the DINO from the actual Democrats. Anecdotal but true.

[hrmjustin]

4. Great people. They can't vote tomorrow but they can help to mobilize people.

[Dragonfli]

9. LOL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511769909#post7

[felix_numinous]

5. Excellent news.

[Skink]

6. Is Bernie on their ballot?

If so will he boost his vote total?

[Dragonfli]

10. See post #7

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511769909#post7

[BernieforPres2016]

11. The WFP delegates voted to endorse Sanders in 12/15 by 87% to 12%

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/blogs/vote-up/2015/12/08/working-families-party-zephyr-teachout-endorse-bernie-sanders/76996244/

<Teachout, a Vermont native, said she's been impressed with Sanders for decades, ever since she saw him speak in Montpelier, Vt., in 1993.

"Our democracy is in crisis. Bernie Sanders is a fearless, experienced leader capable of seeing the truth and standing up to big private power, even when it is almost impossibly hard," Teachout, a Fordham Law School professor who lost to Cuomo but did surprisingly well, said in a statement.

For the Working Families Party, which has an influential role in New York politics as a third party, said it was its first-ever national endorsement.

At a recent Working Families Party membership vote, the party said that Sanders won support of 87 percent of delegates compared to 12 percent for Clinton, the former two-term New York senator, former first lady and secretary of state.>