Remember all the moralizing from Team Sanders about Democratic super-delegates? That was so last week. They have a new strategy:
But Sanders campaign aides say they’ll be able to keep Clinton from reaching the 2,383 delegate magic number she’d need to clinch the nomination at the convention and, by being close enough, convince the superdelegates to switch, as some did when they changed from Clinton to Barack Obama in 2008.
Good luck with that. Obama was the clear front-runner when that happened. Sanders is clearly not. Let’s resume the spin cycle:
“Absent Hillary getting out of the race, I think there’s no way that this race isn’t going to be very close in pledged delegates, even if we succeed,” Devine said. “The best outcome for us, given the nature of the system, is a very close advantage at the end.”
Sanders’ superdelegate pitch will likely take the shape of both direct lobbying and a more formal pitch. Sanders’ campaign will argue that voter enthusiasm and holding to the populist principles of the party are on Sanders’ side. They’ll point to their massive, low-dollar online fundraising.
So, going after super-delegates is all principled and moral when done by Team Sanders?
Superdelegates who’ve already endorsed Sanders say they’re already in touch with their uncommitted colleagues, with plans to step up that engagement.
When you have as bad of a night as they had last night, you’ve got to say something; especially after all the bragging about how they were going to win Ohio *and* Illinois. I must say that the pin the Rahm tail on Hillary tactic was excellent even if they didn’t win the state. It made it much closer in Cook County than it might have been otherwise.
Super-delegates have been around for thirty years and have never decided the Democratic nomination. In 2008, Ms. Clinton had more super-delegates than Mr. Obama BUT, as I said above, they followed the election returns and flowed in his direction as the campaign wound down. That’s why Tad Devine’s new tactic is so unintentionally hilarious: politicians aren’t going to fall in line for last night’s big loser. I presume he knows that, but since he was one of the architects of the 2004 Kerry campaign, ya never know. He and Shrummy let their man get swift-boated without a prompt response, after all. Twas a pity, Big John is a good man and an excellent Secretary of State.
On the other side of the political coin, I remain dubious that the Stop Trump movement will, you know, be able to stop Trump. It’s hard to get all those clown cars driving in the same direction; even if John Kasich is *qualified* to be President. Unlike the MSM, I wouldn’t call him moderate because he’s not, but he’s neither crazy nor a total asshole, something one cannot say about the Insult Comedian.
Finally, is there a whiter, preppier name than Tad Devine? It sounds like he rowed crew and wears polo shirts with the collar popped. I, for one, have never known a Tad, but I am familiar with the sad sack character actor Andy (Professional Comic Relief) Devine who is no relation. I mentioned Andy Devine so I could give Frank Zappa the last word with this song about the actor:
