Democrats who were initially skeptical of the prospects for a brokered convention now see it as a likelier scenario with eight candidates still battling it out for the nomination.
As the Nevada caucuses approach, strategists say it’s becoming clear that none of the Democratic candidates are likely to win the majority of the delegates before the convention in July.
Democratic strategist Eddie Vale said he was once “extremely skeptical” of a brokered convention.
But lately, particularly with the Democratic Party requiring a proportional allocation of delegates, “it’s definitely seeming like it could happen.”
One Democrat who worked on two campaigns for former President Obama called a brokered convention “the biggest nightmare Democrats can imagine.”
“If you want to see a complete shit show, tune in to the brokered convention,” the Democrat said.
Adam Parkhomenko, who worked on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, said “this is currently heading for a convention fight at this rate.”
“If the number of candidates scoring in the double-digits that are splitting delegates continue to do so through Super Tuesday and beyond, it’s just math, unless all of a sudden a number of candidates drop out,” he said.
While campaigns say they are focused on the upcoming primaries, they are quietly thinking more about building out their teams in the event that a brokered convention takes shape, according to sources on various campaigns.
The reason? Most candidates seem unlikely to suspend their campaigns before Super Tuesday, mainly because the money continues to flow into their campaign coffers.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I- Vt.) and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg raised $34 million and $24 million, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2019. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) has also benefited from fundraising momentum since her third place finish in New Hampshire.
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11.27.2024