In order to (try to) avoid a torrent of angry responses regarding Bernie still having a shot to win the nomination, let me state that I am not assuming anything, and that I think Bernie should absolutely continue his race for the nomination and not drop out. And, I write this as someone very sympathetic to Bernie’s agenda. Finally, while I believe both Hillary and Bernie could win a general election, I happen to think that Hillary is a safer bet. There has not yet been the torrent of negative campaigning against Bernie that Hillary has endured for a quarter of a century, and yet she is not only still standing but is not so far behind Bernie’s margins against Trump. Winning the general is far more important than whether it is Bernie or Hillary….[I]f Hillary is the nominee, she should select Bernie as the VP candidate.
It could be argued that it’s still too early to be talking “What if…?” scenarios given that the Democratic nomination is by no means a done deal. Yes, Hillary Clinton currently leads in the delegate count, but the outcome is as yet far from clear. It’s not outside of the realm of possibility that Bernie Sanders could carry his current momentum into California and New York and snatch the nomination from Clinton’s grasp.
When one looks dispassionately (IF one’s able to do so) at the two candidates, it’s easy to recognize that both appeal to very different segments of Democrats. Clinton’s appeal is to more traditional Democrats wary of broad, sweeping change and more interested in incremental change so as to minimize disruption and unrest. Sanders’ supporters tend to be younger, more idealistic, and more willing to (metaphorically, of course) burn the system to the ground in order that it may be replaced with something more equitable and effective. There’s little in the way of middle ground between the two camps, which raises some interesting possibilities as the Democratic convention approaches.
What if the Democrats presented America with a Clinton-Sanders ticket…or even Sanders-Clinton? What better way for Democrats to present America with a choice in which each member of the tickets brings very different and yet complementary skills and experience to the table?
The argument that could be made for a Clinton-Sanders ticket seems a compelling one:
It shows the respect due a large portion of the Democratic electorate who worked hard and voted for Bernie.
More importantly, it shows the respect due, and will be insisted upon by Bernie if he accepts, to the agenda he offered.
It will swell the crowds at campaign rallies beyond anything the Republican base can match, providing both the votes and energy to win a resounding victory.
It will provide Bernie’s millions of online contributors, enabling the Hillary-Bernie ticket to take federal funding and eschew large contributions.
It will be another — along with the first female nominee and president — precedent-breaking move for an electorate that wants precedents broken. But, in a positive way.
Given her experience as Secretary of State, Clinton brings strong foreign policy experience to the table. Sanders has focused more of his energies on domestic policy, and his ideas deserve consideration. While their ideas and policy positions may not dovetail perfectly, there’s enough commonality to make the idea of having both on the party’s ticket very appealing.
The above arguments could be retooled to support a Sanders-Clinton ticket as well. Either way, it would seem a win-win for Democrats. It would present a united front as well as a ticket possessed of far more gravitas and moral authority than anything the Republicans could dream of putting up against them. It would be difficult to see any combination of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders being defeated by a Republican ticket (Trump-Torquemada? Cruz-Bryan Fischer?).
There would likely be challenges, of course. If a Clinton-Sanders ticket prevails in November, they might well be faced with the prospect of wrangling with a Congress still in Republican hands and even more intransigent and inert than ever. That bridge should be crossed when and/or if we reach it.
For now, the idea of a unity ticket is an idea worth considering; I only hope Democrats are capable of displaying the wisdom and humility necessary to make it work.
