Well, the obvious answer is “Obama called all the centrists and got them to drop out and endorse Joe”, that was certainly a part of it.
But it can’t be overlooked that Bernie’s whole gambit was “appeal to the people who normally feel alienated from politics because nobody represents them”, the thinking being that if you could engage enough of those non-voters, you could overcome the various disadvantages of running against a hostile Democratic Party. I think it’s safe to say that gamble didn’t pay off, in hindsight.
Why it didn’t I don’t feel confident in stating with authority at this point, there were a lot of curve balls (unprecedented dropping out of candidates before Super Tuesday, pandemic preventing in-person voting, etc.).
I think it’s safe to say that gamble didn’t pay off, in hindsight.
If you want to make that play you have to go scorched earth on the party establishment like Trump did in the republican primaries in 2016, Bernie didn't do that, he critized the system but never the elites, if you want to convince people that you will fight for them, you have to actually show it. Why would Bernie never critique the failed Obama presidency? why did he keep going around saying "Joe Biden is my good friend", it's because he's more worried about not becoming Ralph Nader and being good friends with the democratic establishment.
Well, the obvious answer is “Obama called all the centrists and got them to drop out and endorse Joe”, that was certainly a part of it.
But it can’t be overlooked that Bernie’s whole gambit was “appeal to the people who normally feel alienated from politics because nobody represents them”, the thinking being that if you could engage enough of those non-voters, you could overcome the various disadvantages of running against a hostile Democratic Party. I think it’s safe to say that gamble didn’t pay off, in hindsight.
Why it didn’t I don’t feel confident in stating with authority at this point, there were a lot of curve balls (unprecedented dropping out of candidates before Super Tuesday, pandemic preventing in-person voting, etc.).
If you want to make that play you have to go scorched earth on the party establishment like Trump did in the republican primaries in 2016, Bernie didn't do that, he critized the system but never the elites, if you want to convince people that you will fight for them, you have to actually show it. Why would Bernie never critique the failed Obama presidency? why did he keep going around saying "Joe Biden is my good friend", it's because he's more worried about not becoming Ralph Nader and being good friends with the democratic establishment.
💯
there was also a good bit of numbers fuckery
and lets not forget, bernie dropped in early april (the eighth iirc) and biden wasnt able to get enough delegates to be the nominee until june.
biden ran unopposed for over a month before he won. (edit: something like twenty states primaries were held during that period)
:dem: