After the opening statements, the meeting paused for several hours, while private conversations continued behind the scenes. Sanders’ campaign has indicated in the past that he wants to be able to influence the party’s platform by moving it to the left, as opposed to what would likely be a more centrist platform under Clinton’s candidacy, without Sanders’ influence. Just 38% of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say the party will “solidly unite” behind Trump; 54% say disagreements in the party will keep many Republicans from supporting him.
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Two Democrats with knowledge of Sanders’ plans said that Sanders is closing in on offering his public endorsement of Clinton. The Democrat spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the plans.
Hillary Clinton barely came back to beat Obama, the Iowa caucus victor, in New Hampshire. Despite disagreements between the two campaigns, Sanders has shown he’s willing to work with Clinton. Clinton’s campaign outlined plans earlier this week to expand college affordability and place a three-month moratorium on student loan payments, a proposal that was developed with the Sanders campaign.
Back in 2008, after a bruising primary race against then-Sen. Barack Obama joined Clinton for an endorsement event in Unity, New Hampshire, a symbol-rich town where Obama and Clinton split the vote in the primary.
Next on Sanders’ list is stiffening the language from the draft platform on the $15 minimum wage.
The announcement Saturday was a clear gesture toward Sanders, who ran a strong primary campaign against Clinton and has held back from endorsing her candidacy as the party’s convention nears.
One important plank Sanders would like added is opposition to having any congressional vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership global trade agreement. “We applaud the approaches taken by states like NY and California”, states the party’s current platform draft.
Sanders can already claim some other victories in the Democratic platform, which a committee has been crafting in advance of the convention this month.
Sanders policy adviser Warren Gunnels expressed confidence that there is still “a great deal we can negotiate”, especially on the trade deal.
What Sanders fails to realize is that this goal will never materialize without him giving his complete support to Clinton.
According to Democrat sources, the endorsement was partly the result of daily talks between Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, and the Sanders’s campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, about bringing together the two rivals and advancing the policy priorities of the senator who withdrew from the presidential race in June. “It is a platform that reflects that reality”. The Orlando meeting is not the final stop for Sanders, who should have support to file reports that would allow for votes on some of these issues at the convention. Many point to Clinton’s Wall Street speeches, the email scandal, the Clinton Foundation, and, of course, Clinton’s record, which is hawkish in the realm of foreign policy and center-right in the realm of domestic policy.
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While Clinton has clearly won over these Sanders voters on all fronts, there is a stark difference between Sanders voters who are now voting for Clinton and those who are still undecided or say they are voting for Trump.
