Without Super Delegates Clinton Can't Win Nomination

By Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News

23 March 16

e keep hearing about how the Republicans plan to attempt to stop Donald Trump by keeping him from getting enough delegates to win on the first ballot. The only reason we are not hearing that Hillary Clinton can’t get the 2,383 delegates she needs to get across the finish line is that superdelegates can put her over the top. Nobody is pointing out that she can’t get there with just pledged delegates.

Bernie Sanders had a good night on “Western Tuesday” and should have an even bigger day on Saturday. Large margins in Idaho and Utah could be a sign of things to come. His campaign has always said the calendar would favor him after March 15th.

While it is true that if Sanders won the rest of the states 55-45 he wouldn’t catch Clinton, it is also true that if Clinton ran the table she wouldn’t get to 2382 without superdelegates. Sanders’s campaign manager Jeff Weaver said on Tuesday that they see a path to the nomination without winning every state. Weaver said they will win some states bigger than others, but there are enough delegates out there and they have models that chart the path to victory.

So let’s look at the bigger picture: After last night 53% of the pledged delegates have been chosen on the Democratic side. Clinton has 1,214 delegates and Sanders has 901. Of course, it won’t be an easy road for Sanders, but it is not impossible.

While Western Tuesday was a good night for Sanders, things have to start getting better. Bernie gained only six delegates, despite his blowout wins in Idaho and Utah. He has to start winning big in big states and not lose the biggest prize of the night in the future.

That can start to happen Saturday. Washington State is a must. He can’t afford to win 2 out of 3 again. Bernie will also need to start winning states like Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania if he plans to get within striking distance to catch Clinton on June 7th. California and New Jersey are on June 7th, and if Bernie Sanders has the momentum it could be a game-changing day.

Presidential elections are about the narrative. If people on the fence believe one side can win, they can make it happen. If the narrative is that a candidate can’t win, it is hard to overcome. That is why the establishment media is attempting to sell the story that Bernie can’t win.

47% of the delegates are still up for grabs. Let’s let the people vote before we declare a winner.

Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.

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