Heavy hearts with Bern nod
Backers resigned to Hillary
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Progressive insurgent Bernie Sanders offered a longawaited endorsement of Hillary Clinton yesterday — to the consternation of some of his backers — but faced with the specter of a Donald Trump presidency, political observers say it is only a matter of time before they follow him into her camp.
Sanders threw his support behind the presumptive Democratic nominee yesterday in a packed gymnasium at Portsmouth High School.
“I intend to do everything I can to make certain she will be the next president of the United States,” Sanders said to rapturous applause.
“Together, we will continue to fight for a government that represents all of us, not just the 1 percent.”
Sanders thanked the “13 million Americans” who voted for him during the Democratic primaries, the people of Vermont, which he represents as an independent senator, and “New Hampshire, which gave us our first victory!”
Sanders handily beat Clinton in the Granite State during the first-in-the-nation primary, giving his campaign a huge boost.
The two embraced, and Clinton took the podium, saying: “I have to say it is such a great privilege to be here with Sen. Sanders. We are stronger together. ... Thank
you, Bernie, for your endorsement.”
Sanders supporters in the auditorium signaled both resignation and reluctance to accept the truce.
Pam Clark, 66, of Westmoreland, N.H., said she was “shocked and saddened” that Sanders was backing his Democratic opponent.
“I’m just here to support Bernie and show that I don’t support Hillary,” she said, adding that Clinton would not get her vote.
Other Sanders supporters were more resigned. Eric Detweiler, 28, of Rochester, N.H., said he had recently become a Clinton convert.
“It was time to make my way over,” he said. “It’s better that we come together than divide at this point.”
Patrick Dorton, a Democratic operative based in Washington, D.C., said, “The Democrats flirted with Bernie, but they’re coming home to Hillary. In the end, they have no other place to go. Donald Trump is the least popular Republican GOP candidate that has ever run for the presidency.”
Trump did not wait for the endorsement speech to begin, tweeting yesterday morning: “I am somewhat surprised that Bernie Sanders was not true to himself and his supporters. They are not happy that he is selling out!” and “Bernie Sanders, who has lost most of his leverage, has totally sold out to Crooked Hillary Clinton. He will endorse her today — fans angry!” Trump also released a web ad featuring Sanders’ past criticism of Clinton.