BERNIE SANDERS IS POISED TO GO THE THIRD PARTY ROUTE

[Paladin]

Caps in original title.

"As if Hillary Clinton didn’t have enough trouble with her e-mail scandal and a possible Joe Biden challenge, now Bernie Sanders is about to torpedo any chance she might have of winning the White House.

ED KLEIN CONFIDENTIAL has learned that the Vermont socialist is poised to declare a third party quest for the presidency, which would all but guarantee a catastrophic split in the Democratic vote and ensure a Republican victory.

Several Sanders campaign insiders say the 73-year-old leftwing firebrand is convinced the fix is in to give the Democrat nomination to Hillary—unless she implodes, at which point the party will line up lockstep behind Biden.

These sources say Sanders believes that despite his ever-growing crowds of fired-up supporters, he’ll never overcome Hillary’s—or, for that matter, Biden’s—advantage in money, organization and endorsements.

“In Bernie’s opinion Hillary is owned by Wall Street and is a hawk,” says one of Sanders’ top campaign officials. “There’s no way he’s going to come to an accommodation with her. He is not in this to compromise.

“The decision hasn’t been made when to make the announcement to go independent,” this source continued. “Right now, things are going great and he very well may upset Hillary in the New Hampshire primary.

“But as soon as she starts piling up delegates with the help of Wall Street money and her formidable ground operation, Bernie’s going to pull out and announce an independent run.

“Bernie’s polling has shown that he has a tidal wave of support among people across the country who have never or seldom voted. They’ll come out for him and pull the Independent Party lever.” "

http://edwardklein.com/bernie-sanders-is-poised-to-go-the-third-party-route/

What a fascinating election season. It has also been theorized Trump may go independent. We haven't seen anything like this since 1948 with Truman, Dewey, Progressive Party former VP Henry A. Wallace, and States' Rights Democratic Party nominee Strom Thurmond. With the Democrat Party split into 3 factions Dewey was expected to win handily. But it didn't work out that way. Instead Truman won in a major upset.

I wonder if we are headed for a similarly bizarre 2016 Presidential election.

[Scottftlc]

It is not completely out of the realm of possibility that you could have two independent runs and the two establishment parties.  A four way race would be very unpredictable.  And what if the Republicans and Democrats ran 3rd and 4th, behind both independents?  It's not unthinkable.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

I was about to have a snack, but when I read this I spilled my seeds and busted my nuts.


Because I dropped my laptop on them.

[Fishrrman]

Scott wrote above:
[[ It is not completely out of the realm of possibility that you could have two independent runs and the two establishment parties.  A four way race would be very unpredictable.  And what if the Republicans and Democrats ran 3rd and 4th, behind both independents?  It's not unthinkable. ]]

If this happens, I want to be on record in this forum for predicting it first with this post which I put up mid-July, which I'll reproduce for your edification:
========================
It's mid-October 2016. It's also the first 4-way presidential race in modern times.

Running on the democratic ticket is Hillary Clinton. Polls show her with support of 29% of likely voters. But her terrible performance in both campaign speeches and interviews is hurting her, as well as a near-breakdown in the second televised debate.

Nipping at Hillary's heels is Bernie Sanders, running for his newly-minted Social Independent party. He's pulling 22% of likely voters, but he is gaining vis-a-vis Hillary. Bernie is hitting hard with his populist/liberalist/socialist theme, to enthusiastic young audiences. This is clearly his last hurrah and he's upbeat and making hay out of it. Adding to Sanders' momentum is his VP candidate, Elizabeth Warren, who graciously accepted his offer for the spot.

Struggling with the Republican ticket is Jeb Bush. He's been saddled by weakness on immigration, and new revelations about how his wife got into the country years ago. He's currently pulling about 22% of the voters.

Finally, there is Donald Trump, running on the American Restoration Party ticket. Against all odds, Trump has built a strong conservative base with loose but frank talk that resonates with many Americans. Trump is running without a VP co-candidate, but he's stated that if elected, he will ask Wisconsin governor Scott Walker to hire on as Vice President and chief advisor. He's polling around 28% and is gaining. After his closing speech in the last debate, in which he proclaimed "No more Bushes! No more Clintons!", he seems not only to be pulling voters from Bush, but some from Hillary's side as well.

Who ya gonna vote for?

[MBB1984]

It is not completely out of the realm of possibility that you could have two independent runs and the two establishment parties.  A four way race would be very unpredictable.  And what if the Republicans and Democrats ran 3rd and 4th, behind both independents?  It's not unthinkable.

I could easily see the democrats and republicans placing third and fourth behind Trump and Sanders in a four party race.

[mountaineer]

I think Ralph Nader should get into the race, too.
Is he still alive?

[bkepley]

This is something I talked about some time ago.  When all the Trumpsters were praying for Trump to go third party it would be funny if it was Bernie who went third party assuring a RINO GOPe victory.

[libertybele]

It is not completely out of the realm of possibility that you could have two independent runs and the two establishment parties.  A four way race would be very unpredictable.  And what if the Republicans and Democrats ran 3rd and 4th, behind both independents?  It's not unthinkable.

What is highly likely in that scenario is that neither of the 4 candidates would actually get enough votes, in which case it is up to the House to elect the president.  If we are left with Sanders, Trump, Bush and Clinton, I think we all know darn well who the House is going to seat.  Bush.  The establishment wins big time.  Obama's transformation of America will continue.

[MBB1984]

This is something I talked about some time ago.  When all the Trumpsters were praying for Trump to go third party it would be funny if it was Bernie who went third party assuring a RINO GOPe victory.

In a four way race, the RINO probably finishes last.