Democrats previously reticent to welcoming Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters \u2014 who have been a weakness MORE into their fold are coming around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than a dozen Democrats interviewed by The Hill say the Vermont Independent has become a powerful and welcome voice for a party struggling to find its identity after a devastating defeat in 2016.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While misgivings remain about giving too much leadership to a politician who technically isn\u2019t a Democrat, a clear warming trend is on the rise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n
\u201cIt continues to drive me a bit nuts that he continues to register as an Independent, but the bottom line is that he is a good Democrat,\u201d said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist who supported Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House\u00a0accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters \u2014 who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE during the Democratic presidential primary and openly worried then about Sanders\u2019s allegiances to the party.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the primary, some Democrats worried that Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, was pushing the party too far to the left.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Others mocked him for being a one-issue candidate who championed what they called \u201cunrealistic\u201d proposals like free college tuition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And he angered some Clinton allies who felt he stayed in the race too long and cut into her message and campaign coffers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At least some Clinton supporters think Sanders deserves a part of the blame for Clinton\u2019s loss to Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE in the general election.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And in recent weeks, former\u00a0President\u00a0Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson ClintonWill the ‘law and order’ president pardon Roger Stone? Five ways America would take a hard left under Joe Biden The sad spectacle of Trump’s enablers MORE told new Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez that he didn\u2019t want the Democratic Party \u201cto be\u00a0simply\u00a0the party of Bernie,\u201d according to a source familiar with that conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An aide to Clinton refuted the characterization, saying the former president has always said the strength of Democratic Party is its inclusiveness. A DNC spokesperson said Perez says the conversation didn’t happen.<\/p>\n
Whatever bitter feelings exist, many other Democrats say Sanders is key to rebuilding the party.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are concerned with labels, you might bristle at the notion of a registered Independent jockeying for control over the direction of the Democratic Party \u2014 and there were certainly some in the party apparatus that expressed precisely this sentiment during the 2016 campaign cycle,\u201d said Lynda Tran, a Democratic strategist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if you\u2019re focused on policy ideas over party labels you might welcome the inclusion of his voice, and frankly other voices too, at a time when the Democratic Party is under intense attack and working on the path forward.”<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, Bernie Sanders may be a registered Independent, but he has always caucused with Democrats and there is no question he continues to enjoy strong support among many members of the Democratic Party,\u201d Tran added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The DNC has sought to harness energy from Sanders and unite the party after last year\u2019s divisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ill feelings also came from leaked emails that revealed DNC staffers had sought to tilt the scales during the primary against Sanders and in Clinton\u2019s favor. Those revelations angered Sanders\u2019s supporters, who have continued to press for changes to the DNC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sanders backed Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) in this year\u2019s DNC chairmanship contest, but he\u2019s shown a willingness to work with Perez going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two men will hit the road in April for a unity tour dubbed \u201cCome Together and Fight Back.\u201d They will appear at rallies in seven states over six days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even those who staunchly supported Sanders in the presidential race acknowledge the awkwardness of Sanders\u2019s decision to remain an Independent after the primary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think it\u2019s strange. I was rather surprised that he went back to being an Independent but I don\u2019t think it matters,\u201d said Bill Press, an early supporter of Sanders who served as a surrogate for the candidate during the primary. \u201cPeople like his ideas. Bernie is Bernie. Whether he has an I or a D after his name … nobody cares.\u201d<\/p>\n
Press, who writes a regular column for The Hill, said Sanders received support from a wide swath of Democrats and plans to use his newfound celebrity to push causes vital to Democrats. He\u2019ll also be a force in helping to elect Democrats in Congress as well as in gubernatorial and state legislature elections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI talk to a lot of people who now believe that Democrats nominated the wrong candidate, and they can\u2019t say for sure that Bernie would have won, but they know Bernie was more in tune with the wavelength of the American people [than Clinton],\u201d he said. \u201cHe was an agent of change. Clinton was not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other Democrats say that while Sanders will be helpful in rebuilding the party, they can\u2019t just rely on him going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One Democratic consultant who supported Clinton joked that it was the \u201cBernie Band-Aid tour: We\u2019ll slap him over our problems but fundamentally change nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, there are still some Democrats, particularly those who supported Clinton, who find Sanders\u2019s role offensive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou come out of the gate and this is who you\u2019re dragging around with you,\u201d said one former DNC official. \u201cA majority of people supported Hillary Clinton in the primary and making Bernie one of the main figures of the Democratic Party isn\u2019t going to do a damn bit of good.”<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he wants to make changes to our party, he should join it,\u201d the official said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n