2020-03-11 07:00:00
Analyse
Primaries of the US Democrats No chance against Biden: the end of Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders, US Democratic presidential candidate
© JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP
by Jan Christoph Wiechmann 03/11/2020, 06:37 a.m. 3 min.
Joe Biden continues his triumphal march in the US Democratic primary. For Bernie Sanders, the race for the presidential candidacy will be extremely close – he no longer has a realistic chance, analyzes our correspondent in the USA.
Michigan was to turn the tide for Bernie Sanders. Michigan was something of his last chance. Just like South Carolina turned the tide for Joe Biden two weeks ago. Just like South Carolina was Biden’s last chance.
Biden used them.
not Sanders.
Bernie Sanders lost Michigan clearly yesterday. But he didn’t just lose in Michigan. He also lost in Mississippi – as might be expected. And in Missouri – not necessarily to be expected. Results from the states of Idaho, North Dakota and Washington were initially pending.
And he lost among the voters closest to him: white men and women with no college education.
Bernie Sanders, US Democratic presidential candidate
© JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP
In other demographic groups, he had no chance against Biden anyway: among blacks. With the women of the suburbs. Especially in older people over 65.
So Sanders was left with only the young voters. He is much more popular among boys. But they rarely go to the polls in the US. Sanders’ big promise to get young voters enthusiastic about his politics in droves has once again not been fulfilled.
He was also unable to form the grand coalition he raved about – Latinos, blacks, Asians, whites.
And now?
Now he doesn’t have much left. Next Tuesday he has no chance in Florida, probably also in Illinois, Arizona and Ohio – and a week later in Georgia even more.
Now the only question left is: Give up and unite with Biden early on against Trump? Or carry on fighting the primaries in all the remaining states well into July, until the Milwaukee nominating convention?
A damn long, arduous, tiring ride.
Bernie Sanders is not exactly considered a pragmatist
Will it be like four years ago when he made life difficult for Hillary Clinton? Or does he approach Biden and Biden approach him? Biden could include some of his political demands and emphasize the similarities. Sanders could motivate his supporters to be 100 percent against Trump this time.
But Sanders is not exactly considered a pragmatist. Especially not as a reconciler. Rather than stubborn. He’s not even a Democrat. He feels no obligation to the party. Especially not the establishment.
And Joe Biden is the epitome of establishment.
Sanders likes the man Biden. But he is not a fan of his politics. He’s too conservative for him, too ingratiating, Biden doesn’t want to change the system.
Sanders wants to change the system. He has also already named the enemies that prevented him from winning: the media and the establishment.
On social media, many Bernie supporters are already flirting with the fact that they will not vote in November. At least not for Biden. Or simply write “Bernie” on the ballot paper. They accept that Trump will be re-elected. Just as they accepted in 2016 that Trump was elected.
No realistic chance
By the way, the big performances of the candidates were canceled yesterday. They were canceled because of the coronavirus. Sanders said nothing, except on Twitter that the Democratic establishment would not be able to stop him.
At least Biden performed without an audience in Philadelphia, statesmanlike, unifying, almost gentle. He thanked Bernie Sanders and his supporters for the energy and looked forward to the anti-Trump election in November.
Other political events of the two candidates are also likely to be cancelled. The next debate on Saturday in Arizona will already take place without an audience.
If it takes place.
If Sanders goes on at all after the March 10 debacle.
If nothing unforeseen happens, he no longer has a realistic chance.
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