Democrats are worried that Sen. Bernie Sanders' insistence on staying in the presidential race, despite poor odds of winning, could harm the party's chances to reclaim the White House next November.
They say Sanders' unwillingness to bow out of the race this year reflects the same stubbornness he showed in 2016. He dragged his feet before pulling out of that primary contest, even when his chances of winning it were almost mathematically impossible.
Some Democrats believe Sanders' reluctance to leave the race earlier fractured party unity and ultimately hurt Hillary Clinton's chances of beating then-candidate Donald Trump.
Now, he may be repeating that mistake.
“I just think it’s a terrible decision for him to make because he looks very selfish,” former Democratic senator Barbara Boxer of California, who supports Biden, told the Washington Post.
Sanders recently announced he would like to debate Joe Biden in April. And his aides are working to broaden his digital campaign strategy in anticipation of the New York primary. That event has moved from April 28 to June 23.
Also, Sanders has shown signs he will ramp up messaging around his Medicare-for-all policy, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
Some in the Sanders camp say he will remain in the race until the convention on July 13. But others close to the candidate aren't so sure of that, suggesting he may drop out before that.
An endorsement from Sanders could help influence his rabid base to throw its support behind Biden, the likely Democrat candidate. To win Sanders' support, a person who works closely with the candidate said Biden would need to align more closely with the Vermont senator on policies.
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