# Bernie or a contested convention - how do you vote? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 11, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760 "2020-02-11T02:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/21 "2020-02-11T16:36:24Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I didn’t see a Warren option there (ETA: so I didn’t vote in the poll), but ISTM that if Bernie doesn’t have a majority but is close, then Warren would be the natural compromise candidate. > > And since she’s my preferred candidate, then the more delegates she has, going into whatever negotiations go on, the better. I was interested in the choice between “decide on Bernie by March” (because he’s the current leader) versus “contested convention in general”. I would put Warren in the “contested convention” category since she doesn’t look close to any majority at the moment. I focused on moderates because, if the current pattern holds through March, it’s choosing between “months of uncertainty who knows what outcome[1]” versus “a majority candidate that doesn’t appeal to moderates, but who can concentrate on winning the general.” (Warren supporters - like myself initially - are making less of a policy compromise switching to Bernie). I personally think the uncertainty is far worse - coming off of Iowa, the disorganization it would display would play into a harmful narrative for the Democrats. _[1] Though with the uncertainty comes plenty of popcorn, and excellent posts on delegate math and complex gamesmanship analysis, so there’s that._ ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/22 "2020-02-11T16:36:52Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > As a spectator, a brokered convention would be the ideal outcome. There hasn’t been one in my lifetime. I want to stock up on popcorn and watch something to rival the 1924 convention - a record 103 ballots. I concur. It would be something to see. I had been curious to see one 4 years ago but the Republicans didn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![pjacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@pjacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjacks)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/23 "2020-02-11T17:27:41Z")
A contested convention that results in a nominee that didn’t win a plurality of delegates would destroy the party. Even the GOP didn’t pull that shit in 2016, and Trump is objectively worse than Sanders in every way. You are crazy if you think Sanders voters would just get over it, and a lot of other voters would find it just as disturbing. I’m a Yang supporter. In a straight contest between Bernie & Pete, I would vote for Pete. But votes matter. If some LOSER is crowned the nominee by a a bunch of DNC dinosaurs who choose to ignore the will of their party members, I would never again vote for anyone with a D by their names. This whole thing is so fucked up. 3 years of Clinton sycophants crowing about how she won the popular vote (also by plurality) and how that is all that matters, and those same people are now nonchalantly considering depriving the primary winner of his own win. What a surefire way to confirm every conspiracy theory about a rigged system. The democrats deserve the ruin they have coming to them if they do this. And it’s your own fault, mushy moderates. While you were fighting over imaginary healthcare bills that all equally have no chance of being passed, and arguing about who was the most woke about busing in the 70s, the Not-Bernie vote remained divided. 2 dozen Not-Bernies and not a single one is acceptable? Well then you dug your own graves and need to live with the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/24 "2020-02-11T18:18:56Z")
I don’t want Warren or Sanders so anything I can do with my vote to keep them from being the candidate. That said I’m not certain if I get a vote in the dem primary this year, we’ll see if and when they mail me a ballot. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/25 "2020-02-11T18:38:09Z")
> [@pjacks](#): > > A contested convention that results in a nominee that didn’t win a plurality of delegates would destroy the party. Even the GOP didn’t pull that shit in 2016, and Trump is objectively worse than Sanders in every way. You are crazy if you think Sanders voters would just get over it, and a lot of other voters would find it just as disturbing. > > I’m a Yang supporter. In a straight contest between Bernie & Pete, I would vote for Pete. But votes matter. If some LOSER is crowned the nominee by a a bunch of DNC dinosaurs who choose to ignore the will of their party members, I would never again vote for anyone with a D by their names. This whole thing is so fucked up. 3 years of Clinton sycophants crowing about how she won the popular vote (also by plurality) and how that is all that matters, and those same people are now nonchalantly considering depriving the primary winner of his own win. What a surefire way to confirm every conspiracy theory about a rigged system. The democrats deserve the ruin they have coming to them if they do this. > > And it’s your own fault, mushy moderates. While you were fighting over imaginary healthcare bills that all equally have no chance of being passed, and arguing about who was the most woke about busing in the 70s, the Not-Bernie vote remained divided. 2 dozen Not-Bernies and not a single one is acceptable? Well then you dug your own graves and need to live with the consequences. Calm down, dude. There are a wide variety of scenarios here. If Bernie gets like 45% of the delegates and nobody else has more than 20%, then, yeah, if he isn’t nominated it’s time to tear up the cobblestones and man the barricades. But if he’s leading Buttigieg 34-33 and the conventions ends up choosing Buttigieg, there’s not really any valid cause for complaint there. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/26 "2020-02-11T19:35:24Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > But if he’s leading Buttigieg 34-33 and the conventions ends up choosing Buttigieg, there’s not really any valid cause for complaint there. You’re absolutely right about that, but that won’t stop a large and vocal minority of Bernie supporters from flinging shit all around the room. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/27 "2020-02-11T20:12:06Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I voted, but if it were “Biden or a contested convention,” I would’ve voted the other way. Same here (voted for Bernie). ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/28 "2020-02-11T20:19:39Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The Bernie subreddit is the most toxic and fanatical place on this planet. Wow. Hyperbole much? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/29 "2020-02-11T20:27:12Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > If [this Bernie voter](https://www.reddit.com/r/bernie/comments/ez67dj/this_girl_has_the_right_idea/) is in any way representative of a majority or even substantial minority of Bernie voters, the D’s will be in trouble in November (assuming Bernie is in the lead but gets replaced by another nominee). I don’t see the problem there. If it goes down as described in your link why wouldn’t you expect huge swaths of disaffected voters? There are already indications that the DNC wants to change the rules: - [DNC members discuss rules change to stop Sanders at convention](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/31/dnc-superdelegates-110083) And they did change the debate rules to benefit Bloomberg: - [DNC overhauls debate requirements, opening door for Bloomberg](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/31/dnc-shifts-debate-requirements-opening-door-for-bloomberg-110017) And again for the debate on February 19 in Nevada: - [D.N.C. Rules Change for Nevada Debate Could Open Door for Bloomberg](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/us/politics/dnc-democratic-debate-rules.html) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/30 "2020-02-11T20:33:30Z")
If the DNC wants to stop him, they should adopt a rule that in order to be nominated for president, you shall have served in public office _as a Democrat_ and shall never have served as a Republican or independent. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/31 "2020-02-11T20:36:16Z")
Yes, that would certainly stop Bloomberg, but would his supporters stand for it? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/32 "2020-02-11T20:36:24Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > If it does come down to a second ballot, and Sanders and Warren have a majority (including the superdelegates) between them, I see one of them withdrawing under the assumption their delegates will vote for the other progressive. In fact, if they have a majority of the pledged delegates between them, I can see Warren (presumably with fewer delegates) withdrawing, and releasing her delegates, before the first ballot - assuming that’s allowed. In a strong whiff of 2016 the ballots are almost all already cast by the superdelegates (yes, they can change): ([Currently](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-endorsements/democratic-primary/)) - Joe Biden: 257 - Elizabeth Warren: 87 - Michael Bloomberg: 68 - Bernie Sanders: 55 - Amy Klobuchar: 53 - Pete Buttigieg: 42 - Michael Bennet: 18 - Tom Steyer: 1 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/33 "2020-02-11T20:40:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If the DNC wants to stop him, they should adopt a rule that in order to be nominated for president, you shall have served in public office _as a Democrat_ and shall never have served as a Republican or independent. They are way ahead of you (kinda): > [@](#): > > The new DNC rules state that a candidate must “be a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishment, public writings, and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrates that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare, and success of the Democratic Party of the United States who subscribes to the substance, intent, and principles of the Charter and the Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States, and who will participate in the Convention in good faith.” > > And candidates must affirm in writing to the DNC chairman that they “are a Democrat… are a member of the Democratic Party; will accept the Democratic nomination; and will run and serve as a member of the Democratic Party.” > > SOURCE: [Bernie Sanders Files To Run As Both A Democrat And An Independent : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2019/03/04/700121429/bernie-sanders-files-to-run-as-a-democrat-and-an-independent) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/34 "2020-02-11T20:44:20Z")
Nominating Bernie or Warren guarantees four more years of Trump, so I voted for the contested convention. I’m almost certainly voting third party anyway, but a fight on the floor would make for entertaining TV. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/35 "2020-02-11T20:49:42Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Nominating Bernie or Warren guarantees four more years of Trump, so I voted for the contested convention. I’m almost certainly voting third party anyway, but a fight on the floor would make for entertaining TV. :dubious: - [General Election: Trump vs. Sanders](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html) - [February 10, 2020 - Sanders Takes Top Spot In Dem Primary As Biden Falls, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Bloomberg Rises In Primary, Runs Strong Against Trump](https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=3655) - [Sanders Crushes Trump by 18 Points Among Independent Voters in New National General Election Poll](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/11/sanders-crushes-trump-18-points-among-independent-voters-new-national-general) - [Bernie Sanders Leads Donald Trump by Widest Margin of All 2020 Candidates: Election Poll](https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-trump-poll-election-2020-biden-bloomberg-1483423) - [Poll finds Sanders faring best against Trump in Texas](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign-polls/480643-poll-sanders-best-challenge-to-trump-in-texas) ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/36 "2020-02-11T20:52:44Z")
> [@squidfood](#): > > I was interested in the choice between “decide on Bernie by March” (because he’s the current leader) versus “contested convention in general”. I would put Warren in the “contested convention” category since she doesn’t look close to any majority at the moment. > > I focused on moderates because, if the current pattern holds through March, it’s choosing between “months of uncertainty who knows what outcome[1]” versus “a majority candidate that doesn’t appeal to moderates, but who can concentrate on winning the general.” (Warren supporters - like myself initially - are making less of a policy compromise switching to Bernie). > > I personally think the uncertainty is far worse - coming off of Iowa, the disorganization it would display would play into a harmful narrative for the Democrats. > > _[1] Though with the uncertainty comes plenty of popcorn, and excellent posts on delegate math and complex gamesmanship analysis, so there’s that._ It’s not a sentiment you hear much among the nerds on this board, but I think that attitude is very widespread among ordinary voters. Democrats care about winning, winning and winning, in that order, and they perceive that a drawn out, divisive primary campaign hurts that goal. I have actually had several people–committed Democrats but not political junkies–tell me that they are deliberately not paying attention to the primary, because they don’t want to end up supporting a loser and then having feelings of resentment toward the winner. I think if Bernie comes out with a big lead after Super Tuesday, a great many voters now supporting “moderate” candidates will move to him rather than signing up for some #NeverBern scorched earth crusade. (And the same is true if anyone else comes out with such a lead, of course) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/37 "2020-02-11T20:53:54Z")
The more Democrats warn in public that “Bernie is un-electable,” the more un-electable Bernie \*\*\*will \*\*\*be if he is their nominee. They’re \*planting \*that seed of thought in the minds of voters by doing so. Even people who \*wouldn’t \*have thought of Bernie as extreme or unelectable are going to think, “Oh, is he? maybe he is…” after they hear centrist D’s hammering that point over and over again. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/38 "2020-02-11T20:57:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The more Democrats warn in public that “Bernie is un-electable,” the more un-electable Bernie \*\*\*will \*\*\*be if he is their nominee. They’re \*planting \*that seed of thought in the minds of voters by doing so. Even people who \*wouldn’t \*have thought of Bernie as extreme or unelectable are going to think, “Oh, is he? maybe he is…” after they hear centrist D’s hammering that point over and over again. > > It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. I thought this might be true with Trump in '16, but it turned out I was wrong. I don’t think this stuff is predictable, especially not this early. We just don’t know. Stuff like this is just a wild guess. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/39 "2020-02-11T21:43:13Z")
I think Velocity has an excellent point here. I wish people would stick to arguing that their candidate offers the best matchup against Trump, instead of “O NOES WE ARE DOOMED DOOMED DOOMED IF THE OTHER GUY WINS!!11” I could be wrong but I don’t remember other Republicans hitting Trump particularly hard on electability in 2016. Experience, character, basic competence, party loyalty, sure, but not electability specifically. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760/40 "2020-02-11T23:30:09Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Whatever keeps Bernie off the ballot. He would be a giant pinata for Republicans to pummel with hammers and sickles. Fuck the Bernie Bros, we need someone who can win. :dubious: Bernie ain’t my primary choice, but don’t kid yourself: every. damn. Democratic. candidate. would be pummeled as a socialist extremist by the GOP and Trumpists. “Demonrats” ARE socialists in their world-view :rolleyes: and they wouldn’t hesitate to call Bloomberg a socialist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-or-a-contested-convention-how-do-you-vote/847760.md?page=3)