Scenario: What if something like 2008 happens with Bernie and Hillary

[randys1]

Nominee Barack Obama Hillary Rodham Clinton
Party Democratic Democratic
Home state Illinois New York
Delegate count 2,285½ 1,973
States carried 29+DC+DA+GU+VI 21+PR+AS
Popular vote 17,584,692[1] 17,857,501[1]
Percentage 47.31% 48.04%

Kinda hard to read, sorry.

My point is it was so close, not even a full percentage point separated them.

How does Bernie walk away from this much support and not run 3rd party if he is the one with one percentage point less than Hillary?

I am just wondering, not even sure it wouldnt be worth the risk, just wondering.

What do you all think?

[PoliticAverse]

1. Because he doesn't want to cause a Rebublican to become President by splitting the vote, that's how.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Which is a VERY good thing

Neither Bernie nor Hillary are self-destructive egomaniacs and will respect the results of the primary no matter how it shakes out. In 2008, I would have expected Barack Obama to have graciously stepped aside for Hillary had she clearly won the nomination as well.

[Cleita]

2. Many who support him will not vote third party. It happened to Ralph Nader.eom

[LWolf]

3. I don't think he'll do that.

He's said he wouldn't.

In your scenario, I suspect Democrats would lose a bunch of votes to 3rd parties and independents, but they wouldn't be for Bernie.

[SheilaT]

5. Why not ask: Why didn't Hillary run as a 3rd party candidate

given her support?

Because neither of them is dumb enough to do so.

[bvf]

6. Sanders won't run as a third-party candidate.

Period.

[randys1]

7. My question was less about what Bernie would do but what his supporters would want

him to do.

Back when he first talked about running and vowed not to run 3rd party, most people including myself, really didnt see him being able to challenge Hillary the way Obama did.

Some may have, but most if they are honest didnt.

So what would WE want, what would I want if I thought he could actually win the election that way?

I probably would default on not risking it, probably.

But it would be a tough call, given that I wonder if we could EVER get that close to the WH ever again?

By we I mean regular people.

AND what would Hillary do if it were she who was down by one percent.

Think about how bad she wants to be the first Woman president.

[bvf]

11. Well...

"How does Bernie walk away from this much support and not run 3rd party if he is the one with one percentage point less than Hillary?"

This doesn't square with your response just now, but whatever.

I wouldn't want him to run third-party, and I'd be very surprised if most of my fellow Sanders supporters didn't agree.

[randys1]

13. Which response does that not square with?

I said I wasnt sure what I would want him to do, that I would probably not want to risk it, but wasnt so sure either way.

I tell you, trying to have a conversation about something around here is now officially IMPOSSIBLE

[bvf]

15. Your OP clearly asked

how Sanders could walk away from that much support.

You subsequent response to me (in which you claimed the question was really about how his supporters would react in your scenario) struck me as incongruous with your OP.

It shouldn't be difficult for you to see this. If you find it "IMPOSSIBLE" to have a conversation around here, I might suggest you review your posts before replying to respondents.

[boston bean]

8. You have asked a question that is a hideable offense.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251417606

[randys1]

12. that is a ridiculous hide

iT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT WAS HIDDEN

[frylock]

14. That wasn't a question you posed.

[Cheese Sandwich]

9. If you think that's a real concern, then definitely nominate Bernie to avoid that scenario

[Jefferson23]

10. If he gets that close the people will have won, even if he does not go Third Party..which

I highly doubt he would do.

It would be a profound statement against the current status of the Democratic Party,
would shake them to their core.