She may have had to wait 36 days since the end of the Democratic primary process to get Bernie Sanders' endorsement, but for Hillary Clinton, it was well worth it.
Once again, before this week's Clinton/Sanders rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, skeptics raised questions about Bernie's intentions: Would he actually endorse her? Would he urge his supporters to get behind her? Would he agree to campaign for her? Would he just sit on his hands? Or, worse yet, might he still bolt and run as a third-party candidate?
But Bernie quickly put such doubts to rest. "I have come here to make it as clear as possible why I am endorsing Hillary Clinton and why she must become our next president," he began. And then he made the promise Clinton was waiting to hear – "I intend to do everything I can to make certain she will be the next president of the United States" – and urged his supporters to do the same.
Then, by repeating the refrain "This election is about …," Sanders masterfully ran through the list of every issue in the progressive playbook: climate change, campaign finance reform, immigration reform, breaking up the big banks, minimum wage, police-community relations, trade deals, income inequality, gay rights, reproductive choice and more. On each issue, he affirmed that Hillary Clinton was on the right side – and exposed Donald Trump for being on the wrong side.
Sanders thus demolished any idea that so-called "Bernie Bros" might actually vote for Trump. "They are not happy that he is selling out," the Republican tweeted even before the Portsmouth unity event began. But, like most Trump statements, there's little evidence to support that one, either. A recent Pew poll, in fact, showed that 85 percent of Sanders backers had already switched their support to Clinton. With his full-throated endorsement of Hillary this week, Bernie persuaded the vast majority of those still on the fence to follow his lead.
Clinton, in turn, reinforced that message by reaching out to Sanders supporters and inviting them into her campaign. Repeating almost word for word some of the arguments made by Sanders, she, too, outlined the progressive issues that would be at the heart of her campaign and, later, of her administration. Addressing Sanders supporters directly, she promised: "You will always have a seat at the table when I am in the White House."
The front-page photo of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on stage together, arm in arm, was the image of Democratic Party unity – especially compared to the chaos among Republicans, where challengers John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz have still refused to endorse their party's nominee. But their show of unity portrayed something else important, too: the image of a strong and vital Democratic Party – thanks to a vigorous and healthy Democratic primary.
There were many nervous nellies who feared a primary and who resented the fact that Bernie Sanders, who wasn't even a Democrat, would dare challenge Hillary Clinton. They accused Sanders of being another Ralph Nader (forgetting that, from the beginning, Sanders pledged not to run as an independent). They said he would only hurt Hillary and leave her more vulnerable in the general election campaign, which is, of course, what supporters of front-runners always say.
They were dead wrong. The primary did not hurt Hillary; it helped her. It did not make her weaker; it made her stronger. She's a better candidate today, having gone through the rigors of a tough primary – a primary debate based on issues, not insults – as she's been the first to admit.
And the Democratic Party is stronger, too, after the primary. Thanks in large part to Bernie Sanders, the party has regained its focus as the champion of the middle class. It has attracted millions of new grass-roots volunteers, small dollar contributors and young voters. In Philadelphia, it's about to put forth the most progressive platform in party history.
As America moves into the general election, the unity, excitement and enthusiasm is clearly with the Democratic Party, and it wouldn't have happened without a vigorous and healthy primary. Hillary Clinton now stands ready to lead Democrats in taking back both the Senate and the House – and making history as America's first woman president.
Of course, Republicans have helped her by nominating the least qualified candidate for president ever. But when Hillary does finally make it to the White House, she'll owe a big thank you to an exciting primary challenge from Bernie Sanders.
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