Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-VT) presidential campaign has responded to a recent New York Times report suggesting that some establishment Democrats have banded together to thwart his efforts. The "Stop Sanders" Democrats are led by the likes of liberal organizer David Brock and Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, who fear Sanders could derail their efforts to defeat President Trump.
From canapé-filled fund-raisers on the coasts to the cloakrooms of Washington, mainstream Democrats are increasingly worried that their effort to defeat President Trump in 2020 could be complicated by Mr. Sanders, in a political scenario all too reminiscent of how Mr. Trump himself seized the Republican nomination in 2016.
How, some Democrats are beginning to ask, do they thwart a 70-something candidate from outside the party structure who is immune to intimidation or incentive and wields support from an unwavering base, without simply reinforcing his “the establishment is out to get me’’ message — the same grievance Mr. Trump used to great effect? (New York Times)
The potential that Sanders will be the last candidate standing is "spooking establishment-aligned Democrats," the NYT concludes.
Aware of the article, Sanders's campaign sent out the following urgent email to his supporters.
Anddddd the @BernieSanders campaign is already out with a fundraising e-mail building off @jmartNYT’s story this morning.https://t.co/yizMQGm4cH pic.twitter.com/qjnNUnR5hO
— Kevin Robillard (@Robillard) April 16, 2019
Sanders may not need much extra help, however. Take a look at his impressive fundraising haul so far.
“This counterproductive negative campaigning needs to stop,” Sanders wrote in a letter. “The Democratic primary must be a campaign of ideas, not of bad faith smears. Please help play a constructive role in the effort to defeat Donald Trump."
Sanders's supporters are likely still bitter over how the DNC treated their candidate in 2016. Time and again, party leaders proved they were rolling out the red carpet for Hillary Clinton, to Sanders's disadvantage.