Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a campaign rally at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday in San Diego
Facing elimination, Bernie Sanders vowed yesterday [Macau time] to win primaries in California and beyond even as Hillary Clinton secured the commitments of enough delegates to become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Campaigning in San Francisco, Sanders declined to speculate to reporters about what a poor showing in today’s primaries might mean to his presidential campaign. “Let me just talk to you after the primary here in California where we hope to win. Let’s assess where we are after tomorrow,” he said.
Hours later, at an evening rally at Crissy Field in the Presidio, Sanders steered clear of reports from The Associated Press and multiple television networks that Clinton had reached the 2,383 delegates needed to become the presumptive Democratic nominee. She has 1,812 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses, and the support of 571 superdelegates.
Sanders’ supporters expressed disappointment that the calls were made before California’s primary and urged the senator to continue on despite the pronouncements.
“We’re going to keep fighting until the last vote is counted,” said Kristen Elliott, a Sanders’ supporter from San Francisco who attended the rally.
Said another attendee, Patrick Bryant of San Francisco: “It’s what bookies do. They call fights before they’re over.”
He said the campaign’s job is to convince the superdelegates that the Vermont senator is “by far the strongest candidate against Donald Trump.” He said calling the Democratic contest before superdelegates formally vote at the convention was a “rush to judgment.”
Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said Clinton’s support was dependent upon superdelegates who could still change their minds between now and the July convention.
Sanders’ tone was more subdued before reporters after saying over the weekend that the Democratic convention would be contested if no one wins the nomination based solely on delegates awarded in the primaries and caucuses. Sanders also faced new questions about the future of his campaign amid reports that President Barack Obama was readying an endorsement of Clinton.
Sanders and Clinton are competing in contests in six states today (Macau time), headlined by California, the nation’s largest state, offering 475 pledged delegates. Clinton, a former New York senator, is heavily favored in today’s New Jersey primary and winning a share of the state’s 142 pledged delegates would likely put her over the top.
Obama, who bested Clinton in 2008 during her first bid for the Democratic nomination, is preparing to formally endorse her and start aggressively making the case against Trump. White House officials said the announcement could come within days, although not before the elections. Ken Thomas, San Francisco, AP
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