Bernie Sanders Takes West Virginia
Wednesday, 11 May 2016 00:00 By Robert Borosage, Campaign for America's
Future | News Analysis
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks with supporters at a town
meeting at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 18,
2015. Sanders swept the West Virginia Democratic primary yesterday, winning
51.4 percent of the vote. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
West Virginia really likes Bernie Sanders. He swept the Democratic primary
yesterday, winning 51.4 percent to Clinton's 36 percent, even in the face of
the mainstream media essentially declaring the race over.
Speaking in Salem, Ore., Sanders described the key to his victory: "West
Virginia is a working-class state, and like many other states in this
country, including Oregon, working people are hurting. And what the people
of West Virginia said tonight, and I believe the people of Oregon will say
next week, is that we need an economy that works for all of us, not just the
1 percent."
After winning Indiana last week, Sanders pockets West Virginia and his
prospects are improving in coming contests in Oregon, Kentucky and
Washington. He's vowed to keep fighting -- and winning -- through the
primaries, which culminate on June 7 with the major face-off in California
and several other states. (The slighted residents of the District of
Columbia will vote last on June 14.)
Sanders won across the board. CNN exit polls show him winning men 53-35 and
women 50-38. He won the young big again, and even edged Clinton among
seniors. He won the college educated and the non-college educated (60
percent of the electorate). Over one-third of the voters were self-described
independents, and he won those by more than two to one (58-22). He won
voters most concerned about the economy, health care and inequality. He won
those most favorable to a candidate who is honest (69-21), and who cares
about people like them (59-23). Clinton once more won those most concerned
about experience (75-23) but they were barely one-fifth of the electorate.
West Virginia Democrats don't like President Obama. Clinton routed him here
in 2008. But this time, Clinton has clearly defined herself as the candidate
of continuity. Only one-fourth of Democratic primary voters (26 percent)
wanted to continue Obama's policies. Clinton carried those 68-30. Sanders
remarkably won both those who wanted more liberal policies and those who
wanted less liberal policies than Obama.
Sanders keeps winning primaries, adding delegates and whittling away at
Clinton's pledged delegate lead (now up by about 286). He's now won 19
primary contests (20 if you include Democrats abroad). In the face of a
Democratic establishment and mainstream media eager to put the primaries
behind them and get on to the main event, he keeps drawing massive rallies
and demonstrating the power of his message.
And he's clearly pushing Clinton to move to a bolder agenda. She recently
doubled down on her opposition to the president's Trans-Pacific Partnership
deal, opposing a vote in the lame duck session of Congress and calling for a
new trade approach that works for working people. This week, she announced
her support for a public option in Obamacare, and for allowing people of "a
certain age" -- 55 or 50 -- to buy into Medicare. Sanders immediately dubbed
it "Medicare for some" but it clearly demonstrates the continuing influence
of his campaign to move Clinton and the party to a more progressive message.
Sanders vows to keep going to the end. If he continues to win --
particularly if he culminates by winning the diverse Democratic vote in
California, he'll make the case to Democratic super delegates that he would
be the strongest candidate in the general. Sanders fares better than Clinton
against Trump in poll after poll.
Democrats and the Clinton campaign have to be sobered by this week's
Quinnipiac polls showing Trump -- even as a quarter of Republicans say they
won't vote for him -- running neck and neck with Clinton in Pennsylvania and
Ohio. Trump's alienation of women (Clinton leads by double digits, 19
percent in Pennsylvania) is countered or exceeded by his margins among men.
Both are unpopular, with her negatives now matching or exceeding his.
Remarkably, voters think she is more dishonest than the Donald. Trump leads
in all three states as the one most qualified to handle the economy, the
most serious issue in the election. Trump leads among seniors; Clinton among
the young. She'll need Sanders' energy to insure that they actually turn out
to vote.
Sanders has every reason to stay in the race. He's unlikely to overcome
Clinton's margin in pledged delegates. But even if he doesn't succeed in
convincing super delegates that he's the stronger standard bearer, he'll
still take the momentum from continuing primary victories and over 1,600
delegates into the convention in Philadelphia and push for a bolder party
platform. If she keeps moving his way, Clinton might end up a stronger
candidate as a result.
Americans are not going to elect Donald Trump president of the United
States. But if Clinton runs as the status quo candidate of experience, she
just might make a race of it.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not
be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
ROBERT BOROSAGE
Robert L. Borosage is the founder and president of the Institute for
America's Future and co-director of its sister organization, the Campaign
for America's Future.
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Bernie Sanders Takes West Virginia
Wednesday, 11 May 2016 00:00 By Robert Borosage, Campaign for America's
Future | News Analysis
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reference not valid.
. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks with supporters at a
town meeting at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on July
18, 2015. Sanders swept the West Virginia Democratic primary yesterday,
winning 51.4 percent of the vote. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
. West Virginia really likes Bernie Sanders. He swept the Democratic
primary yesterday, winning 51.4 percent to Clinton's 36 percent, even in the
face of the mainstream media essentially declaring the race over.
Speaking in Salem, Ore., Sanders described the key to his victory: "West
Virginia is a working-class state, and like many other states in this
country, including Oregon, working people are hurting. And what the people
of West Virginia said tonight, and I believe the people of Oregon will say
next week, is that we need an economy that works for all of us, not just the
1 percent."
After winning Indiana last week, Sanders pockets West Virginia and his
prospects are improving in coming contests in Oregon, Kentucky and
Washington. He's vowed to keep fighting -- and winning -- through the
primaries, which culminate on June 7 with the major face-off in California
and several other states. (The slighted residents of the District of
Columbia will vote last on June 14.)
Sanders won across the board. CNN exit polls show him winning men 53-35 and
women 50-38. He won the young big again, and even edged Clinton among
seniors. He won the college educated and the non-college educated (60
percent of the electorate). Over one-third of the voters were self-described
independents, and he won those by more than two to one (58-22). He won
voters most concerned about the economy, health care and inequality. He won
those most favorable to a candidate who is honest (69-21), and who cares
about people like them (59-23). Clinton once more won those most concerned
about experience (75-23) but they were barely one-fifth of the electorate.
West Virginia Democrats don't like President Obama. Clinton routed him here
in 2008. But this time, Clinton has clearly defined herself as the candidate
of continuity. Only one-fourth of Democratic primary voters (26 percent)
wanted to continue Obama's policies. Clinton carried those 68-30. Sanders
remarkably won both those who wanted more liberal policies and those who
wanted less liberal policies than Obama.
Sanders keeps winning primaries, adding delegates and whittling away at
Clinton's pledged delegate lead (now up by about 286). He's now won 19
primary contests (20 if you include Democrats abroad). In the face of a
Democratic establishment and mainstream media eager to put the primaries
behind them and get on to the main event, he keeps drawing massive rallies
and demonstrating the power of his message.
And he's clearly pushing Clinton to move to a bolder agenda. She recently
doubled down on her opposition to the president's Trans-Pacific Partnership
deal, opposing a vote in the lame duck session of Congress and calling for a
new trade approach that works for working people. This week, she announced
her support for a public option in Obamacare, and for allowing people of "a
certain age" -- 55 or 50 -- to buy into Medicare. Sanders immediately dubbed
it "Medicare for some" but it clearly demonstrates the continuing influence
of his campaign to move Clinton and the party to a more progressive message.
Sanders vows to keep going to the end. If he continues to win --
particularly if he culminates by winning the diverse Democratic vote in
California, he'll make the case to Democratic super delegates that he would
be the strongest candidate in the general. Sanders fares better than Clinton
against Trump in poll after poll.
Democrats and the Clinton campaign have to be sobered by this week's
Quinnipiac polls showing Trump -- even as a quarter of Republicans say they
won't vote for him -- running neck and neck with Clinton in Pennsylvania and
Ohio. Trump's alienation of women (Clinton leads by double digits, 19
percent in Pennsylvania) is countered or exceeded by his margins among men.
Both are unpopular, with her negatives now matching or exceeding his.
Remarkably, voters think she is more dishonest than the Donald. Trump leads
in all three states as the one most qualified to handle the economy, the
most serious issue in the election. Trump leads among seniors; Clinton among
the young. She'll need Sanders' energy to insure that they actually turn out
to vote.
Sanders has every reason to stay in the race. He's unlikely to overcome
Clinton's margin in pledged delegates. But even if he doesn't succeed in
convincing super delegates that he's the stronger standard bearer, he'll
still take the momentum from continuing primary victories and over 1,600
delegates into the convention in Philadelphia and push for a bolder party
platform. If she keeps moving his way, Clinton might end up a stronger
candidate as a result.
Americans are not going to elect Donald Trump president of the United
States. But if Clinton runs as the status quo candidate of experience, she
just might make a race of it.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not
be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
Robert Borosage
Robert L. Borosage is the founder and president of the Institute for
America's Future and co-director of its sister organization, the Campaign
for America's Future.
Related Stories
Bernie Sanders Wins Landslides in Washington, Alaska and Hawai'i; Corporate
Media Downplay Them
By Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! | Video InterviewBernie Sanders Vows to Take
His Fight All the Way to Democratic Convention
By Elizabeth Preza, AlterNet | News AnalysisRalph Nader: Sanders Should Stay
in Democratic Race, Is Only Losing Due to Anti-Democratic System
By Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! | Video Interview
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