Elections

Survey: Bernie Delegates Would Hate It If Hillary Picks One Of These People For VP

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
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Bernie Sanders delegates believe that a number of high-profile names being mentioned as options for Hillary Clinton’s running mate are unacceptable, and if she picks one of them, those delegates are be ready to protest the pick in Philadelphia at the Democratic National Convention in less than two weeks.

According to a survey of Sanders delegates conducted by the Bernie Delegates Network, the numbers show “big concerns about Hillary Clinton’s pending choice of a vice presidential candidate.”

A number of Sanders delegates may be willing to “publicly denounce prospective running-mates and even protest on the convention floor,” a statement from the network said. Sanders endorsed Clinton last week, but not all his voters are enthused by Clinton.

The Bernie Delegates Network is an initiative launched by RootsAction.org in partnership with Progressive Democrats of America. More than 250 Sanders delegates participated in the survey via email over the last two days, before the survey was released Saturday.

When asked by surveyors how important Clinton’s vice presidential choice would be to them, 70.6 percent said “very important” or “important.” An additional 13.2 percent said “somewhat important.”

Sanders delegates were asked to respond with “Acceptable,” “Not Acceptable,” or “Unsure” in relation to six potential Clinton running mates.

The results on each person came out as follows:

SEN. TIM KAINE:
Acceptable — 2.7 percent
Not Acceptable — 88.5 percent
Unsure — 8.8 percent

HUD SEC. JULIAN CASTRO:
Acceptable — 8.0 percent
Not Acceptable — 79.8 percent
Unsure — 12.2 percent

SEN. MARK WARNER:
Acceptable — 1.9 percent
Not Acceptable — 91.6 percent
Unsure — 6.5 percent

SEN. CORY BOOKER:
Acceptable — 11.1 percent
Not Acceptable — 72.8 percent
Unsure — 16.1 percent

ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS:
Acceptable — 1.5 percent
Not Acceptable — 88.5 percent
Unsure — 10.0 percent

ADM. MIKE MULLEN:
Acceptable — 2.3 percent
Not Acceptable — 88.5 percent
Unsure — 12.2 percent

According to the online poll, a “vast majority” of surveyed delegates said that if Clinton picks someone they don’t like, they would “seriously consider … denouncing the VP pick” or “nonviolently and emphatically protesting in the convention hall during Clinton’s acceptance speech.”

“We have every reason to believe that the lopsided numbers from this survey indicate it would be a risky proposition for Clinton to choose a running-mate who is supportive of corporate-friendly trade deals and cozy with Wall Street,” Norman Solomon, national coordinator of the Bernie Delegates Network and a Sanders delegate, said.

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