Will Sanders compete in primaries?

[question everything]

which ones? Is he changing registration from Independent to Democrat? And if not, why should he compete in Democratic primaries?

Just asking.

[catnhatnh]

1. No-he's just kidding. N/T

[Jackpine Radical]

2. The Primaries are too early.

He's waiting for the Secondaries.

[HooptieWagon]

3. Of course. How else would he seek the Dem nomination?

There is no registration to change. Vermont has no party registration. All Sanders has to do is file the papers to get on each states primary ballot...same as anyone else.

[question everything]

5. And each state Democratic party will have to approve putting him on the ballot?

I can see some states balking at it.

[HooptieWagon]

6. No. You apparently have no understanding of the process.

The state parties have no input on who appears on the ballot. A candidate files with the Secretary of State to be on the ballot. They pay a filing fee, or can submit a petition with a certain number of signatures. That's it.
Of course, the state party may refuse to help him. That will likely be the case in Florida, where the state party is a Third Way and in the bag for Hillary. They probably won't go as far as making death threats, as they have local liberal candidates, since the Secret Service would likely get involved. But they can't keep him off the ballot.

[question everything]

13. Obvioulsy

What if, say, Ross Perot wanted to participate in a Democratic primary or caucus and a Republican Secretary of State said OK?

This is why I've always objected to open primaries. I think that if you want my vote as a Democratic candidate you should first declare yourself as a Democrat.

I don't object to third parties but one should declare himself as one.

[peecoolyour]

7. If he gets any trouble at all in any state, I'm going to automatically assume

the other camp had something to do with it and my POTUS vote in the general will be a write-in.

I will vote for the nominee only if Bernie is given 100% ballot access in the primaries.

[DCBob]

11. What if your vote gives the election to the GOP??

Are you ok with that?

[Chan790]

21. Some of us are not entirely convinced that Hillary is not a Republican wolf in Democratic wool. n/t

[question everything]

23. It is about the Supreme Court. Hillary will not nominate a Thomas, or an Alito

many here still think the same about Clinton, yet he gave us Ginsburg and Breyer.

[peecoolyour]

25. If there's no shenanigans, then I will vote for the nominee.

If there is and it pisses a large number of people off, the nominee has no one to blame for a GOP president but themselves.

[DCBob]

28. That makes no sense whatsoever.

I would never vote to sacrifice this nation to the Republicans again. I learned my lesson from the 8 horrific years of Bush/Cheney. I will vote for the Democratic candidate no matter what.

[TDale313]

4. He's running for the Democratic Nomination

And is qualified to, as he caucuses with the Dems. And it's my understanding he couldn't register as a Dem in Vermont if he wanted to- that they don't have the same kind of party registration most states do.

[question everything]

14. Patrick Leahy is a Democratic Senator from Vermont

thus, apparently one can represent Vermont as a Democrat (and be the subject of Cheney's go f**ck yourself...)

And then I remember Senator Jim Jeffrods who started as a Republican from Vermont and then switched on a Independent and yes, caucusing with the Democrats. Thus switching can occur.

[cali]

22. Yes. Pat identifies as a Democrat and is a member of the Vermont Dem Party

but like every other registered voter in Vermont, he is not a registered party member. Bernie is not a member of the VT Dem Party, though come election time the VT Dem Committee has consistently supported him- as has the DNC.
The DNC has welcomed Sanders to the primary. It's highly unlikely that any state will exclude him. And the comparison to Ross Perot is silly: Bernie has been a member of the Dem caucus in both the House and Senate. How do you think he gets Committee assignments?

[Kalidurga]

8. It's cool that you are anxious that a there is going to be an actual primary

and no automatic coronation.

[FSogol]

9. The DNC is already fundraising using his name along w/ HRC and O'Malley. n/t

Last edited Tue Jun 2, 2015, 08:37 AM - Edit history (1)

[morningfog]

10. Yes. He is not registered as an independent.

[question everything]

12. He certainly is

If you go to Senate.gov he is listed as Independent. When did he change his affiliation?

[morningfog]

16. That is not his registration. There is no party registration in Vermont.

[question everything]

17. Then how come Senator Leahy is a Democrat?

I am just trying to understand the mechanism.

[morningfog]

19. It's a difference between identification and registration.

Bernie has said he will do whatever is required to get on the ballots as a Dem in the primaries.

[hack89]

18. To run in New Hampshire he will have to swear that he is a registered Dem.

Most states require that primary candidates attest that they are registered with the party whose nomination they are seeking.

You can split hairs about Vermont but when he files in New Hampshire, in my mind he becomes a registered Dem.

[morningfog]

20. He's running as a Democrat, he's made that clear. He's said he'll do whatever

is necessary to get on the ballots in the Democratic Primary.

[NorthCarolina]

15. He should because it's not about "the party", it's about the people. eom

[question everything]

24. As long as we have primareis and caucuses that are run by the parties

it is about the party, whether you like it or not. And the history of primaries is full of individuals not listed among the candidates because the parties would not allow them.

[NorthCarolina]

26. That only works as long as the people continue to accept it.

I sense the tide is turning.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

27. It amazes me how many people have to 'just ask' these question. nt

[question everything]

30. People who do not pretend to know everything and are not afraid to ask

People who are not quick to mock others for asking questions.

[Maedhros]

29. Thank you for your 'concern.' [n/t]