Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders addresses supporters during a rally at Cal State on Tuesday after winning the Oregon primary over front-runner Hillary Clinton. Despite the victory, Sanders is likely to lose the Democratic nomination to front-runner Hillary Clinton, leaving him with the difficult decision of how to proceed after inspiring a liberal "political revolution." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI |
License Photo
WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, long a lonely progressive voice in the Senate, could return there as the standard-bearer for liberals if he falls short in his bid to capture the party's nomination, his colleagues in Congress say.
But even some who have had long personal friendships with Sanders say his influence with Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill could wane if his outsider campaign divides the party and ultimately serves as a tool to help presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton.
"How Bernie handles the period between the end of the primaries and the convention will really tell the tale," Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told Politico. "Coming together shouldn't be hard. And he is obviously in a very powerful position to make that happen. And I think how he exercises that power will really dictate how everybody feels about his effort."
Sanders faced vocal criticism from several senators for failing to more strongly rebuke supporters in the wake of Saturday's chaos at the Nevada Democratic Convention.
Sanders supporters heckled California Sen. Barbara Boxer for backing Clinton. The convention devolved into a shouting match with a handful of physical skirmishes and chairs wielded inside a Las Vegas casino ballroom.
Sanders is likely to have a much higher Senate profile as a result of the campaign -- if, colleagues say, he doesn't allow his "political revolution" to turn into a civil war within the Democratic Party.
Sanders has maintained he intends to continue campaigning through the Democratic convention in Philadelphia in July, where Clinton could win the nomination. A pro-Sanders group was recently approved to hold four outdoor rallies in Philadelphia during the convention, which they predict will draw some 38,000 supporters.
While Sanders has defended his supporters, he has also worked privately to assure his old friends on the Hill he does not intend to allow his candidacy to permanently damage the party.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, the No. 2-ranking Democrat in the chamber, said Sanders called him Wednesday to allay concerns he was leading a campaign aimed at wounding Clinton should she be the nominee.
"We talked about the demonstrations and such," Durbin told Bloomberg. "I am convinced, as Bernie has said repeatedly, he is going to be on the team to defeat Donald Trump. I don't have any question in my mind."
Sanders also spoke with Boxer, who told CNN the two had a "warm conversation."
"He expressed shock that his people would do it," Boxer said. "In my mind when he says he does not support any type of violence, I believe him. And he's got to make sure it doesn't happen. People will follow his lead."
