Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders vowed again on Saturday to take his campaign to the Democratic National Convention in July. (Getty)
Polls, delegate numbers, and votes point to Hillary Clinton as the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate. Clinton is on the cusp of declaring the historic nomination as the first female presidential candidate. However, Bernie Sanders has yet to concede.
The Associated Press reported on Monday night that Clinton has the number of delegates needed to become the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee.
The Vermont senator’s campaign swiftly responded to the report Monday night.
“It is unfortunate that the media, in a rush to judgment, are ignoring the Democratic National Committee’s clear statement that it is wrong to count the votes of superdelegates before they actually vote at the convention this summer,” Sanders’ spokesman Michael Briggs said in a statement Monday.
“Secretary Clinton does not have and will not have the requisite number of pledged delegates to secure the nomination. She will be dependent on superdelegates who do not vote until July 25 and who can change their minds between now and then.”
California, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana are set to vote Tuesday in the final significant day of voting in the presidential primaries.
Six states are going to the polls on the Democratic side, with a total of 694 delegates at stake. The biggest prize by far is California, which has 475 of those delegates.
California voters could have a big say in the next move Sanders makes.
Tuesday’s primary will likely be a deciding factor in his plan to stay in the race through the Democratic National Convention.
“Let me just talk to you after the primary here in California, where we hope to win,” Sanders told reporters according to CNN. “Let’s assess where we are after tomorrow before we make statements based on speculation.”
If Sanders pulls a win in California, it won’t give him anywhere near the number of delegates he needs to overcome Clinton’s lead.
However, he hopes that a victory in California and other states will bolster his argument as a stronger opponent against Trump, helping persuade superdelegates to to switch their support from Clinton to him.
Sanders would need to convince hundreds of superdelegates — party officials and state leaders who cast their final votes at the convention — to withdraw their support for Clinton and back him instead.
On Saturday, Sanders repeated his pledge not to concede even if Clinton acquires enough delegates to reach 2,383, the threshold for securing the nomination.
Clinton recently pointed out to reporters that Tuesday would mark exactly eight years since she conceded to Barack Obama in her 2008 primary campaign. Clinton drew a direct comparison with her decision, hinting that Sanders should do the same.
According to The Wall Street Journal, there is a divide in Sanders’ campaign over whether the senator should step down after Tuesday’s primaries and unite behind Clinton, or continue the fight until July’s Democratic National Convention.
Sanders has continuously promised to give every voter a chance to weigh in, meaning he will compete in Washington, D.C.’s June 14 primary.
Do you think Sanders should drop out of the race? Vote in the poll, and tell us why in the comments section below.