Horowitz: Democrats Unify Ahead of Schedule
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
With attention understandably focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, Bernie Sanders' unqualified and enthusiastic endorsement of Joe Biden last week did not get the prominent media coverage it would have otherwise.
But the fact that Democrats were able to come together in mid-April-- rather than battling it out all the way to the convention, now scheduled for August-- is a promising development, enabling the Biden campaign to consolidate its party base early and turn all its attention to the general election. This added time- a scarce campaign resource--is an advantage that neither Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama had in 2016 or 2008 respectively, when the nomination fight continued right up to the convention.
The great unifier, in this case, is Donald Trump, whose presidency is viewed by Democrats across the board as an unqualified disaster. As Bernie Sanders told Joe Biden, when he endorsed him in a joint virtual appearance a week ago, “We've got to make Trump a one-term president and we need you in the White House. So, I will do all that I can to see that happens."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHe told the AP, “It would be ‘irresponsible’ for his loyalists not to support Joe Biden, warning that progressives who ‘sit on their hands’ in the months ahead would simply enable President Donald Trump’s reelection.”
Demonstrating his commitment to Biden’s victory, Sanders is already backing up his words with action: sending out an email urging his supporters to contribute to the DNC; merging policy advisors on joint issue task forces; and having his top campaign officials reach out to progressive groups that had backed his candidacy to urge them to get behind Biden.."
Sanders’ endorsement was followed-up in quick succession by endorsements from Barack Obama and Elizabeth Warren. Asserting that Joe Biden was much more suited to our current crisis than the current occupant of the White House, Obama said, “…if there is one thing we have learned as a country from moments of great crisis, it is that the spirit of looking out for one another can’t be restricted to our homes or our workplaces or our neighborhoods or our houses of worship. It also has to be reflected in our national government, the kind of leadership that is guided by knowledge and experience, honesty and humility, empathy and grace. That kind of leadership doesn’t just belong in our state capitals and mayor’s offices; it belongs in the White House, and that is why I am so proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States.”
Elizabeth Warren picked up on the same theme, “In this moment of crisis, it's more important than ever that the next president restores Americans' faith in good, effective government — and I've seen Joe Biden help our nation rebuild.”
This early coming together around Joe Biden is, of course, no guarantee of victory; otherwise, we would have had Presidents Kerry and Gore. It does, however, enable the former vice-president to put the energy needed into narrowing President Trump’s decided fundraising and digital advantages. Most importantly, it allows sufficient time to bring the progressive wing of the party behind the Biden candidacy and heal any lingering wounds from the nomination contest. In 2016, between 10% and 15% of Sanders supporters did not vote for Hillary Clinton in the fall. The early polling evidence is that the percentage of defections will be much lower this time, given the fact that an overwhelming majority of this group disapprove of President Trump’s performance in office. Incorporating Sanders and many of his key supporters fully into the campaign in a way they never were in 2016--will even further reduce these defections and have the added advantage of providing a marginal boost in turn-out.
As the early twentieth century humorist, Will Rogers famously said, “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” This year may prove the exception to that time-honored rule.
Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits, businesses, and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.
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