# Unifying the Democratic party at the convention **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 4, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930 "2020-03-04T17:40:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/41 "2020-03-04T21:35:13Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > The math is even easier than this, though, because the second group actually VOTES more reliably than the first, period. Just because the second group is older. Nothing to do with perceived strokes or slights to the first group’s Bernie-ism. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/42 "2020-03-04T21:36:18Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Bernie-or-Busters are clustered in blue states (and specific bits of red ones), while Biden-or-Busters — people who voted for Trump or not at all in 2016, and will vote for Biden in November but would vote for Trump or not at all if Bernie were the Dem candidate — are clustered in the places that matter — the purple places, like the small Midwestern city I live in. > > So, if telling Bernie and his bros to fuck off means 10 fewer Biden votes from the first group, but 10 more from the second, I’m going with “fuck off.” > > The math is even easier than this, though, because the second group actually VOTES more reliably than the first, period. > > BUT, the nice, socialist-leaning, compromising, inclusive Democrat (and small-d democrat ) in me sympathizes with the OP’s proposal. Despite the math, I’ll probably end up bending over backwards to stroke the Bernie bros’ hurt feelings. After all, I agree with nearly all their GOALS, wholeheartedly. I haven’t seen any reason to believe that someone like Abrams as VP would lose Biden any voters. Do you think there are a significant number of Biden voters who would stay home if the VP pick was Abrams (or some other person well liked by Bernie voters)? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/43 "2020-03-04T21:40:01Z")
Excellent question! I can literally ask my neighbors this. I’ll get back to you in a few days with some data! I’m guessing having Abrams on a Biden ticket would scare away only about 10% of these voters. Warm piss and all that. 😉 ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/44 "2020-03-04T21:42:47Z")
What’s scary about Abrams? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/45 "2020-03-04T21:50:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What’s scary about Abrams? Not scary to me, of course. I hope I don’t have to spell that out. I’d love to vote for her as PRESIDENT. But the neighbors I’m taking about — the ones we need to have vote for Biden — a few of them are just racist enough and/or just misogynistic enough that this would turn them away. Of those, I’d say an even smaller group would be okay with an African American (like Booker) or a woman (like Klobuchar), but not both at the same time. I’m guessing here, of course, but these are people I talk to almost every day. Did some of them vote for Obama? Yes, even some of the the somewhat racist ones. The economy sucked in ‘08; they recognized that Obama wasn’t “really” a Black American; and, they didn’t associate him with a particular crop of scary young socialists led by AOC (I know Abrams has little to do with the AOC crowd — I’m just taking about the associations some of THEM will make). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/46 "2020-03-04T21:51:23Z")
Just how much of the Sanders backers need to be mollified? We’re now seeing he doesn’t have that awesome voter turnout ability that we all had to fear losing/angering. I am having a hard time imagining a Bernie win leading to Sanders offering the veep slot to Biden’s choice. The Sanders backers howling outrage over the rigged system/oligarchy are not going to be appeased - probably were never going to vote anyways. Some nods to progressiveness are certainly appropriate. Giving Bernie any choice in the matter is kinda outrageous. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/47 "2020-03-04T21:54:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Just how much of the Sanders backers need to be mollified? We’re now seeing he doesn’t have that awesome voter turnout ability that we all had to fear losing/angering. I am having a hard time imagining a Bernie win leading to Sanders offering the veep slot to Biden’s choice. > > The Sanders backers howling outrage over the rigged system/oligarchy are not going to be appeased - probably were never going to vote anyways. Some nods to progressiveness are certainly appropriate. Giving Bernie any choice in the matter is kinda outrageous. You might be right - my suggestion is based on my own reading of each candidate’s supporters, but it’s hard to have proof for something like this. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/48 "2020-03-04T21:54:58Z")
Let’s turn the scenario around. Suppose it’s Sanders 49-47. Does Bernie concede on important issues on the platform? Does he select Klobuchar to be his running mate and let Biden pick the Secretary of State? Is he willing to put down the shouts of “Sell Out!” from his most ardent supporters? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/49 "2020-03-04T22:00:07Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’d love Warren as VP (or even better, Prez), but I don’t think that would appeal to the angry Bernie voters I’m worried about. What’s their beef with Warren? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/50 "2020-03-04T22:03:33Z")
Kind of weird for the establishment to make accommodations to the guy who is running on the platform of destroying the establishment. While I recognize that mending fences is usually a good idea, I’m reminded of the time when House Republican Whip Eric Cantor started making demands about the 2009 stimulus package should be entirely tax cuts and virtually no spending, and President Obama reminded him: “Elections have consequences.” ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/51 "2020-03-04T22:26:05Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > You might be right - my suggestion is based on my own reading of each candidate’s supporters, but it’s hard to have proof for something like this. We’ll see. But what are you exactly warning of? That the great majority of Sanders supporters will merely vote for Biden rather than volunteer/donate? Ok. Hard to imagine anything that he could reasonably do to get you volunteering. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/52 "2020-03-04T22:39:29Z")
Ahhh, the much respected Sarah Palin gambit. McCain was old. Biden is older. McCain had to fight through concerns that the direction of the government would change drastically if he couldn’t complete his term. Biden would be wide open to the same concerns. Biden is, again, old. It would be useful if he could find a VP that can take on a similarly active role to the one he played with Obama. Delegation to a trusted subordinate can help manage the workload. That takes a trustworthy subordinate who will only advance Biden’s policy in public. (In private they can have passionate disagreements at high volume.) It is easier if that person has a similar approach to government but this plan throws that out the window. Is there a person that is both highly focused on progressive revolution now and willing to consistently champion Biden’s vision? Maybe. It seems like it would be hard to find. Without that they end up holding down the VP’s chair with their butt and attending state funerals. That doesn’t help Biden govern. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/53 "2020-03-04T22:49:00Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > What’s their beef with Warren? In my understanding, an irrational expectation that she should have dropped out and supported Bernie. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Kind of weird for the establishment to make accommodations to the guy who is running on the platform of destroying the establishment. I agree! It is weird. I’m worried that the alternative is a lesser chance at winning in the general. > [@CarnalK](#): > > But what are you exactly warning of? That the great majority of Sanders supporters will merely vote for Biden rather than volunteer/donate? Ok. Hard to imagine anything that he could reasonably do to get you volunteering. I’m worried that a significant chunk of Bernie supporters are angry enough that they might not vote for Biden, but significant and meaningful gestures (like choosing a Bernie-approved VP) might have a chance at winning some of them back. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/54 "2020-03-04T22:53:43Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > Is there a person that is both highly focused on progressive revolution now and willing to consistently champion Biden’s vision? Hunter? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/55 "2020-03-04T23:01:44Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Hunter? _goes to Urban Dictionary to see if “progressive revolution” is now code for spending your child support payments on crack and strippers_ ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/56 "2020-03-04T23:16:02Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Bernie-or-Busters are clustered in blue states (and specific bits of red ones), while Biden-or-Busters — people who voted for Trump or not at all in 2016, and will vote for Biden in November but would vote for Trump or not at all if Bernie were the Dem candidate — are clustered in the places that matter — the purple places, like the small Midwestern city I live in. > > So, if telling Bernie and his bros to fuck off means 10 fewer Biden votes from the first group, but 10 more from the second, I’m going with “fuck off.” > > The math is even easier than this, though, because the second group actually VOTES more reliably than the first, period. > > BUT, the nice, socialist-leaning, compromising, inclusive Democrat (and small-d democrat ) in me sympathizes with the OP’s proposal. Despite the math, I’ll probably end up bending over backwards to stroke the Bernie bros’ hurt feelings. After all, I agree with nearly all their GOALS, wholeheartedly. I could have written this myself. > [@CarnalK](#): > > Just how much of the Sanders backers need to be mollified? We’re now seeing he doesn’t have that awesome voter turnout ability that we all had to fear losing/angering. I am having a hard time imagining a Bernie win leading to Sanders offering the veep slot to Biden’s choice. > > The Sanders backers howling outrage over the rigged system/oligarchy are not going to be appeased - probably were never going to vote anyways. Some nods to progressiveness are certainly appropriate. Giving Bernie any choice in the matter is kinda outrageous. Biden doesn’t actually need much from Sanders, other than what gets him past the convention. The jump in turn out that started in 2018 continued through these primaries, and yet during that the youth vote for the most part did not keep up with the jump in participation. Whatever else you say about Bernie Sanders, he can generate an entire stadium full of young, enthusiastic voters, but somehow that doesn’t translate to getting all the other kids. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/57 "2020-03-11T15:18:08Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > After Super Tues, it appears that Biden has a significantly greater chance at a plurality of delegates than Bernie, with no other candidate having any chance at all. I’m a Bernie supporter and thus disappointed (and I’ll still be rooting for the somewhat low chance of a Bernie comeback), but my disappointment is irrelevant for this thread. I think Biden is a weak candidate and there is a real risk of him losing a significant amount of Bernie supporters to staying home or even voting for Trump for spite (I plan to vote for the Democratic nominee). > > It still appears that there is a relatively high chance that Biden fails to get a majority of delegates. I think this could be a positive thing for the prospect of unifying the party, as follows: > > Let’s assume Biden ends up with ~40-45% of delegates, and Bernie ends up with ~30% or so, with other candidates having all the rest. Biden could almost certainly press for the other candidates’ delegates to be released to support him, and it’s very likely enough of them would be fine with this (after the first vote) to get him a majority, even without superdelegates. But I don’t think this would be the right path. I think the best course of action would be to bring in Bernie and his team and negotiate on what it would take for them to support Biden’s candidacy. This might mean a VP that is acceptable to Bernie (perhaps Stacey Abrams?), along with some cabinet spots for Bernie allies (and maybe Warren too, for extra unity), and maybe some policy concessions (maybe a more robust public option, postal banks, or all the other things that they’re not terribly far apart on). I’m sure that the trolls among Bernie’s supporters (a very, very small number, relatively speaking) would still be unhappy (they’re trolls, after all), but I believe the great majority are much more like me, and would be much more willing to accept and support Biden beyond merely at the ballot box if we felt that our candidate, with a strong 2nd place performance, had very significant input into the Biden administration and campaign. > > The alternative – ignoring the Bernie supporters and pushing through with other delegates would almost certainly work to get Biden the nomination, but I think it would result in a much lower likelihood of winning in the general. Like it or not, many, many Democrats (millions?) support Bernie, and the nominee will need the support of most of them to beat Trump. Is that what Bernie would have done? I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/58 "2020-03-11T15:20:13Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If you aren’t interested in their votes, perhaps. I’d prefer if as many Democrats (and others!) as possible vote for the Democratic nominee, but YMMV. And if they don’t, what will you do? Vote for Trump? Stay home? What? You are basically admitting that Bernie supporters are really not committed to supporting the Democratic candidate, they are only committed to supporting THEIR candidate who happens to be running as a Democrat. I don’t know if it’s better to bite the bullet and cut off the cancer of the left wing tea party or to appease them and encourage future hostage taking. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/59 "2020-03-11T15:21:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Where are the rest of those delegates going? > > There are 3979 total delegates, 1991 needed for the nomination. A total of 105 are pledged to people other than Biden/Sanders and I can’t see many more going to them. There’s no way the delegate count can end up like you are saying. Only 3% of the delegates are going to anyone beside Biden/Sanders. The worst case scenario is %49 vs %48, with the remaining 3% to the folks who’ve dropped out. > > This ignores the super delegates for now. Or am I missing something in your scenario? It looks like it will be pretty decisive. but who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930/60 "2020-03-11T15:24:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > But then what? Do they ignore the Bernie supporters, or do they try and give them a stake in the candidate and thus the general election? Beating Trump isn’t enough of a stake? Every Biden supporter I know was ready to swallow hard and vote for Bernie. It sounds like the same can’t be said for the Bernie supporters. And we will have to pay Danegeld every cycle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unifying-the-democratic-party-at-the-convention/848930.md?page=4)