The Democratic Party says it will give trailing presidential contender Bernie Sanders a prominent say in writing its platform this year, a gesture that could ease tensions between his camp and party leaders.
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According to the Washington Post, Sanders will appoint five members to the 15-person committee, and the Hillary Clinton campaign will appoint six, based on the total number of popular votes each candidate has received so far.
Sanders said in an interview Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union that he favors Tim Canova in Florida’s 23rd congressional district over Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Furthermore, Sanders himself isn’t showing any sign that he’s willing to concede to Clinton before the July convention in Philadelphia – or that he’ll endorse her if she gets the nomination.
The Vermont senator sarcastically shot back: “Well, first of all, I guess if we take your assumption, and Clinton supporters’ assumption, to the logical conclusion, you know what we should do?” Feeling slighted by party rules, Democrats supporting Sanders threw chairs and had to be cleared out by security at the convention May 14.
Over the weekend, Sanders expressed his support for Wasserman-Schultz’s opponent, Tim Canova, during an interview with Jake Tapper. Sanders sent a fundraising for the congressional hopeful on Saturday and the Canova campaign announced Monday that the email raised $250,000. Sanders also told CNN he would replace Wasserman Schultz as party chair if he made it to the White House.
Bernie Sanders referenced Disney as an example of the downside of modern capitalism during his campaign speech Tuesday in Anaheim.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Trail 2016: Digging up dirt LA mayor: “Donald Trump will not win California” Our political leaders need to set examples of reasonable conduct MORE is raising funds for eight candidates running for seats in state legislatures across the U.S. Sanders again insisted a prolonged Democratic fight is good for democracy and resisted any suggestion he may be wounding Hillary Clinton in a general election.
Wasserman Schultz already faced a stiff challenge from Canova thanks in part to cash pouring in from small-money donors feeling the Bern. Whether Wasserman Schultz survives her August 30 primary is a factor. Hillary Clinton has had every advantage, every break given to her from the very beginning by this Democratic Party. According to CNN, she made fun of the “media’s love affair with notions of party discord” and said she was “confident that we will channel the passion and energy from our primary into unity behind a common goal”.
Wasserman issued a statement saying she will remain neutral in the Democratic presidential race, despite the statements from Sanders.
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“There will certainly be a groundswell of contributions and national interest, but his race really depends on voters in her district”, said Dave Wasserman, pointing out that the congresswoman won re-election in 2014 with over 60 percent of the vote.
