Blogger Candidate Forum: Hoosier Primary

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Hello Everyone:

It is Wednesday, which means it is time for Blogger Candidate Forum.  Today we have no shortage of things to talk about.  One thing about this election cycle is there always something to say.  This election cycle has upended all manner of conventional political wisdom.  The general public is sick and tired of the same old, same old.  They want someone different, out of the mainstream, with fresh solutions to the issues that challenge the American public.  Blogger believes this can be a good thing but without a mechanism of implementation or the slash-and-burn approach, that out of the mainstream candidate can exacerbate matters.  Before we look at the latest developments, let us take a look at the results.

Senator Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump
indystar.com

First of all, congratulations to Senator Bernie Sanders and Donald on their respective victories.  For Senator Sanders, it was a much needed victory after a series of losses in the previous primaries.

His win in the Hoosier State reinvigorates his flagging campaign.  Last week, Senator Sanders was in a state of introspection after losing to Secretary Hillary Clinton in four out of the five Mid-Atlantic states and the New York state primaries.  Senator Sanders retreated to his home state of Vermont to re-assess the state of his campaign. The media, including this blog, reported that the Sanders campaign laid off hundreds of workers.  This was seen as an indication that Sen. Sanders was getting ready to suspend his campaign.  The other way to look at it, field offices were shut down as logical end of a state primary campaign.  However, thanks to the state of Indiana, Senator Bernie Sanders lives to fight another.

Early results from the Indiana Primary
youtube.com

Senator Bernie Sanders won the Indiana State Primary with 52.7 percent of the vote.  Madame Secretary received 47.3 percent. (http://www.ap.org)   It was a slim margin but enough to give the Gentleman from Vermont an additional 44 delegates, to raise his total of pledged and super delegates to 1,450.  Sec. Clinton still holds a commanding delegate lead.  Despite yesterday's loss, she has amassed 2,223 pledged and super delegates. (http://www.nytimes.com) While the Sanders campaign can look forward to potential victories in West Virginia and Oregon, with her commanding lead in the delegate count, Madame Secretary could have the nomination wrapped up before June.  Senator Bernie should savor this victory.  It did a lot for campaign morale, especially after the recent losses. His Social Democracy movement lives on.  However, you cannot deny that Secretary Clinton's lead is insurmountable.  In order for Senator Sanders to overcome the 773 delegate difference, he would have to win the remaining primaries by at least 59 percent.  Either that, or Secretary Clinton's campaign suffering a major collapse or her being escorted out of her headquarters by federal marshals.  Since neither one is going to happen in the immediate future, Senator Bernie Sanders can continue to remain competitive and play a major role in shaping the fall campaign platform.

The remaining Republican candidates as of Monday
rawstory.com     

Blogger supposes it should be no surprise that Donald Trump won the Indiana primary by a wide margin.  Mr. Trump handily defeated his two remaining rivals: Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich 53 percent of the vote to 36.7 and 7.5 percent of the vote respectively.  (http://www.ap.org)  It should also be no surprise that both the Ohio Governor and the Gentleman from Texas finally dropped out of the race.  Although, Blogger has to give both gentlemen credit for staying in as long as they did, especially Gov. Kasich.  It is rather too bad that the anti-Trump faction did not embrace the more moderate governor.  However, the Republican electorate wanted someone completely out of the mainstream.  Even TEA Party favorite Sen. Cruz was still too mainstream for the Republican voters.  Mr. Trump's resounding victory gives him 57 delegates, to raise the total to 1,013, putting him 224 delegates within clinching the nomination.  (http://www.nytimes.com)  Looking ahead to the remaining caucuses and primaries, stating the obvious, Mr. Trump should also have the nomination clinched before June.  The primary and his remaining rivals dropping out leave Mr. Trump the presumptive nominee.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton
online.com

Where does this leave us?  If you are a California, like yours truly, you have to feel like why bother voting in the June primary? After all, the General Election candidates are pretty much a foregone conclusion.  They have been since March.  Even though the Republican nominee has been, for all intents and purposes, decided there are down ballot candidates that deserve your consideration and the Democratic race is still not over, despite what the Gentleman from Vermont may think.  Senator Sanders is wrong to assume that Madame Secretary considers their contest over.  She is too smart of a candidate to think this.  As the race slowly turns toward November, both Mr. Trump and Secretary Clinton are beginning the process of vetting potential running mates.  This is the wise thing to do.  While Blogger does not believe that Madame Secretary Clinton will announce a running mate until the nomination is absolutely secure, yours truly is not so sure about Donald Trump.

Just a friendly reminder when Election Day is
voteforthepresidentonline.com

What happens next?  The Republican party has no choice but to rally around Donald Trump.  Dropping an anti-Trump candidate at this stage is as useless as Senator Ted Cruz announcing his running mate despite being mathematically eliminated from winning the nomination on the first ballot.  It is an act of desperation on the part of the anti-Trump faction.  Blogger got momentarily excited when former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg floated idea of running as an independent but wisely decided against the idea.

An article in today's Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com) argued in favor of Sec. Clinton conceding the nomination to Sen. Sanders-"Hillary Clinton Should Concede to Bernie Sanders Before The FBI Reveal Its Findings."  The writer, H.A. Goodman, makes some good points about the state of the ongoing investigation of Sec. Clinton's emails, however, suggesting that concede the race before the FBI recommends indictments is premature.  Yes, a presidential candidate being investigated for federal crimes gives the other side ammunition but that would not be something that Sec. Clinton would do.  She is taking a "wait and see" approach regarding this matter.  It maybe the more prudent approach but better this than act in haste.

For now, the campaign moves on.  The candidates have set up tent poles in California, the biggest prize.  Always save the best for last.  More next week.