What Bernie Sanders accomplished while failing again

Bernie Sanders pulled off an impressive failure in his doomed, five-year quixotic quest to become the presidential nominee of the party he’s refused to join.

A failure because he did not become the Democratic Party’s pick — twice. Amazing because in losing again, the democratic socialist almost single-handedly succeeded in coaxing, pushing and drawing the party of Andrew Jackson far to the left of where it needs to be to win a normal White House assignment from American voters.

True, four years ago Sanders was a protest candidate against an unpopular Hillary Clinton who wanted to inherit her husband’s job. But Sanders’ “Medicare for All” scheme seemed ridiculous then. Taxing Americans that are not you is an evergreen for Democrats.

But forgiving college debts was a cartoon dream. And a Green New Deal was a used-car special. Now, those ideas are in that party’s mainstream, thanks to Sanders, and candidates must say they support some version.

U.S. politics are always unpredictable. Who’d have thought the party of declared diversity would examine a field of 29 women, African Americans, billionaires, a gay mayor, a Latino and a spiritual healer and reject them all. Then, overwhelmingly opt for two rich white males, lifelong pols in their late 70s? As a stark contrast to, say, the incumbent rich white guy also with several homes in his 70s?

Perhaps you’ve noticed this unpredictability, lo these last five years. Maybe you’ve also noticed what Sanders did last week after saying, “I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win.” He suspended his campaign. Key word, suspended.

That’s a technical term under federal election law that permits an apparent surrender to political reality while continuing to fundraise, normally to pay down campaign debts. What debts? This cycle the Vermont senator raised $232 million, mainly donations under $200. Joe Biden could barely find $86 million.

Now, Sanders has endorsed Biden likely for an understood quid pro quo. But Sanders’ name stays on ballots for all the Democratic primary elections postponed into June by the coronavirus outbreak.

Given Democrats’ proportional allotment of delegates, that allows Sanders, in turn, to continue adding delegates to his 914. Which will give him some progressive persuasive powers and clout shaping the 2020 platform more to the liking of Sanders and his loyal lefty legions that Biden desperately needs on Nov. 3.

Biden currently holds 1,217 of the 1,991 delegates necessary to capture the nomination at the convention in Milwaukee or online somewhere. That’s a virtually insurmountable lead, meaning Sanders would have to reverse his dwindling popular vote this time and capture around six of every 10 remaining delegates. Key word there, virtually.

At Biden’s suggestion, the convention was delayed five weeks over virus concerns. That means Sanders’ name remains in second place for the next 18 weeks, which is a very long time for a committed alternative to hang around. Presidential campaigns used to last two or three months — total.

Just four weeks ago, Sanders was the runaway favorite to become the nominee. And 18 weeks ago, a lonely doctor in rural China was raising concerns about some new kind of virus that’s now shut down the U.S. economy, locked millions of jobless in their homes and will help select the next president of the United States.

Just imagine what old Joe Biden, renowned gaffe-master, could do or say in 18 weeks to ignite stubbornly smoldering party fears that the 77-year-old is not up to the commander in chief’s job.

Not to mention whether he’s prepared to take on a no-holds-barred incumbent like Donald Trump. During those 18 weeks, the Republican’s campaign, including a massive up-and-running online operation perfectly-timed for this social lockdown, will begin investing its more than $225 million treasure chest.

It will share the harvest from years of opposition research on Biden’s family, the twists and turns of his 36-year speaking and voting record in the Senate and eight years as loyal vice president for the man who has yet to endorse him.

For better or worse, Republicans are handcuffed to Trump, whose policies and real achievements are admired by 90% of the minority party and whose words, behavior and unnecessary antagonism have repelled a poll majority since his inauguration. Only two modern-day elected presidents have lost reelection bids, both over weak economies.

Which explains why, to the media’s professed puzzlement, Trump so often speaks of easing virus rules, not just because of the simmering revolt over religious restrictions. His initial reopening date for the economy was Easter Sunday. Now, it’s May 1. Realistically, select areas might restart closer to Memorial Day.

Politically, Trump needs the economy surging back yesterday. Absent that, he wants everyone to see how determined he is to get the jobs his policies stimulated back up quickly.

But hey, listen, in the interests of our nation’s health, your impatient president has reluctantly bowed to the cautious advice of medical experts. It’s a pretty smart strategy. And it just might work, if Trump can keep the media criticizing his urgency.

The president has vowed the four-day GOP convention in Charlotte will not move from the last week of August. Trump vows can be, um, flexible. But when the fall campaign opens, he wants the national TV attention on that colorful pep rally and him declaring, “We’re back!”

Biden suggested the other day it might be better if Democrats opt for a virtual convention online.

True, that would consolidate control of the camera and agenda in his team’s hands and minimize the threat of Sanders or any of his disgruntled supporters making trouble on or off the convention floor. A repetition of that 1968 teargassed get-together in Chicago would be the ultimate divisive Democratic nightmare.

But would an online Biden meeting with a half dozen balloons be a sufficiently exciting and inspiring spectacle to witness and to motivate Trump haters to go to the polls?

The charisma-free, wannabe White House occupant and party minions promising free stuff through hours of Skype streaming? Just like that last Zoom call with your sister when her family dog knocked over the laptop camera. The ratings would be on the floor, too.

This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "What Bernie Sanders accomplished while failing again."