Sanders campaign accuses DNC of favoritism
Chairwoman called ‘the divider’ of party as tensions increase
Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign assailed the head of the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday, accusing her of lavishing favoritism on his rival, Hillary Clinton, during the party’s increasingly tense nominating battle.
The criticism comes amid growing fears about the prospects for party unity, as supporters of Sanders have been enraged by how they were treated at a state convention in Nevada last weekend and directed violent threats at the Democratic chairwoman there.
National party leaders, such as the DNC’s chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, have criticized how Sanders has handled the unrest, adding to the frustration within his campaign.
“The chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, it is clear almost from the get-go that she has been working against Bernie Sanders — there’s no doubt about it, for personal reasons,” Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, said of Wasserman Schultz on MSNBC.
Weaver cited the primary debate schedule and the DNC’s fundraising agreement with Clinton as specific slights. In regards to Wasserman Schultz, he added, “She has been the divider and not really provided leadership that the Democratic Party needs.”
Sanders has condemned violence and harassment by his supporters and has vowed that he will do whatever it takes to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president, even if he is not the Democratic nominee. But it is unclear if Sanders’ passionate fans will follow suit.
Several of the supporters of Sanders who left messages for Roberta Lange, the Nevada Democratic Party’s chairwoman, said that they would be voting for Trump over Clinton because of how they were treated by the state party.
A WBUR poll of New Hampshire voters that was released Wednesday also showed some ominous signs for Clinton, who was deadlocked with Trump in a hypothetical general-election matchup in the state. Nearly a quarter of those who support Sanders had no plans to vote for Clinton if she is nominated, and 10 percent said they would vote for Trump if she were the Democratic nominee.
Exit polls last week during the West Virginia Democratic primary showed a similar dynamic, with 44 percent of voters who supported Sanders saying that they would back Trump in a general election.
“There is healing in the Democratic Party that will need to take place,” said Steve Koczela, who conducted the WBUR poll. “The primary is definitively not over in the minds of Sanders supporters, and a lot of it has left them pretty cold to the idea of voting for Hillary Clinton.”