We haven't heard from @SenSanders but as I point out in my Post-Dem Primary forecast update, the Dem Primary IS mathematically over & the reason for him to stay in (to push Biden on policy) has changed profoundly by the COVID19 Crisis. Let me explain why. niskanencenter.org/bitecofer-post…
Under a normal scenario, a purely symbolic "run out the calendar" plan might have made sense (from the progressive left's perspective mind you, NOT from the parties!) It'd look similar to the 1 that @RickSantorum ran in '12, when he couldn't win the nom but def had enough support
to keep the RVs gassed up & to maybe even win some caucus states. And by keeping policy pressure on Romney, it prevented Romney's triangulation back to the center (and the RNC would argue hurt his chances to win the general, which is why they reformed their nominating rules right
after to make it easier for the frontrunner to consolidate victory in 2016 (which, of course, made it very hard for them to avoid the nomination of DJT). So like I said, a party's ideological base likes the "run out the calendar" approach bc it pushes the nominee on the issues &
candidates like it bc it lets them hold onto the dream for awhile longer, and then let it go gently (which is why, again, what @amyklobuchar & @PeteButtigieg did the night before Super Tuesday was truly AMAZING). But parties hate it bc it makes it harder for them to win in Nov.
But here's an interesting twist about 2020 now that a pandemic crisis has interceded into it & caused an unprecedented economic collapse: Sanders would have more influence on policy outside of the race than in it. Let me explain why, or rather how. If he was strategic, & if
Sanders values the policy goals of his movement, he is uniquely well-positioned to strategically maneuver this situation, bc the Biden team needs his endorsement, badly. Sanders has an opportunity to end his own campaign & become a key player inside Biden's team as their conduit
to that hard-core progressive left that the mainstream of the party failed to get on board in 2016. And by becoming a valuable insider to the mainstream, rather than a thorn in the side outside agitator, Bernie would be positioned to take advantage of what is a once in a lifetime
opportunity to make profound policy changes to the economic structures underlying the American economy as the economy is rebuild from post-COVID19 destruction. many of the economic reforms he advocates for faced immobile status quos bc the economy was stable, in destruction,
when status quos are already in flux, opportunity for change is at its greatest. It'll be interesting to see if he understands this because if he does, it seems fairly obvious to me that the right move is to concede and get immersed helping the Biden campaign.
