Could Philadelphia’s DNC Be Contentious?
When talking about national political conventions this year, it seems like all eyes are on Cleveland, where the Republican National Convention will be held this summer. Will the Republican Party actually award a nomination to the wildly-contentious Donald Trump, or will political machinations ensure that someone more moderate takes the vote? It remains to be seen. Interesting things are at work in the Democratic Party too, however, and there are indicators that the race between Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders could make for a much closer race to the finish line at the Democratic National Convention, which is to be held in Philadelphia.
With Bernie Sanders giving Hilary Clinton a real run for her money, the DNC in Philadelphia is sure to be an interesting one. Photo: CNN / REUTERS
Nobody expected Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, to give Clinton this much of a run for her money. Far from standing as a mere gadfly candidate to be brushed off (like so many others were in the loaded Republican race), Sanders has actually mounted some impressive wins in recent days. He took Washington State with 73 percent to 37 percent, swept Hawaii by 70 to 30 percent, and dominated Alaska with a big 82 percent win. Unlike the Republican Party, Democrats award state delegates proportionally, keeping Sanders from really closing the gap between himself and Clinton.
As the Washington Post put it, Hilary Clinton remains “the overwhelming front-runner to win the Democratic nomination,” Sanders’ continued, un-ignorable presence in the race “give[s] Sanders a rationale to continue fighting through July and underscore lingering unease among base voters about the woman who will almost certainly be their standard bearer in the fall.”
There are other prize states on the horizon that, if won by Sanders, could shift the whole course of the primary. Wisconsin votes next, and both candidates are there stumping for votes as this is written. On April 9th comes New York with its 247 delegates – a state that Clinton represented for years. Pennsylvania and its 189 delegates will be up for grabs a week after that. Coming on April 26th: Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware, which between them share 195 delegates.
