A former member of the Bernie Sanders campaign, says the Vermont senator has hosted recent calls to his supporters where he has reassured them he will not be releasing his delegates to Clinton on the first ballot.
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“Our goal is definitely party unity at the end of this”.
“We don’t manufacture fear”, he said. In a passionate warm-up appearance Monday afternoon before hundreds of his delegates, Sanders made it clear he won’t be leading a rebellion against Clinton.
Sanders will address the Democratic convention the same night that first lady Michelle Obama and immigration activist Astrid Silva will speak.
Outrage over what some have called a “rigged” primary process was fueled over the weekend in the days leading up to the convention when emails published by WikiLeaks suggested some committee staffers favored presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton over Sanders throughout the primaries.
To roaring cheers from delegates in Philadelphia, Sanders also touted progressive wins in the Democratic party platform and over future nominating rules.
The frustration some Sanders’ supporters still have with Clinton – a candidate they see as entrenched in a political system they distrust -was evident, with the crowd breaking into a chorus of boos.
There’s also discussions about a roll call vote on the convention floor so Sanders’ delegates are heard.
In the latest sign of disunity, the party confab was formally opened on Monday by Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake – not by Democratic National Committee boss Debbie Wasserman Schultz as expected.
The Democratic National Committee issued a statement apologizing to Sanders, his supporters and the party for the “inexcusable remarks made over email”, saying the comments “do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality”.
Some New York delegates for Sanders said they don’t want the convention leaders to try to limit Sanders’ delegates’ voice.
Russell continued, “Whether you support Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton, we’re all in this together …”
Some are not willing to give up on his candidacy yet.
Cari Gardner, a Sanders delegation from Hastings on Hudson, Westchester County, said she plans to lobby Clinton delegates to change their position and vote for Sanders.
Throughout the next few speakers – who were convention officials – Sanders supporters booed any mention of Clinton or Kaine. Minnesota delegate and Sanders supporter Gabe Aderhold said a roomful of the senator’s supporters booed loudly when Sanders said during a Monday morning meeting that he would back Clinton. “I just think it’s wrong for her and it’s wrong for us”. We won this by standing up.
“I can’t say what is going to definitely happen, there is just a general feeling of unease and unhappiness and distrust”, said Maggie Kain, a Sanders delegate from Rhode Island.
“Hillary Clinton won’t be living in the 4th District”.
Even former President Clinton is a NY superdelegate because the couple lives in Chappaqua, Westchester County.
Another goal has been to get the party to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which Sanders has derided.
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“I’m not really anxious about it”, Whiteside said. Bernie Sanders. The emails are believed to have been obtained by Russian hackers.
