Bernie Sanders lost four of five primaries last week, cut over two hundred staffers and reported for the first time in 2016 that he has raised less money than Hillary Clinton in a single month. Despite all that, Democrats don’t think the end is near.
While Sanders may be fighting a losing battle in the delegate math, many believe he still has the money he needs to finish out the primaries and maybe even go the convention and fight for his progressive ideals.
“His role in the last month or so of this campaign is to draw those real contrasts between the Republicans running for president and the Democratic Party,” Democratic strategist Doug Thornell told the Washington Examiner. “He’s a very talented communicator and he’ll be very helpful to the election that way.”
During the month of March the democratic socialist’s campaign raised $46 million, and during February it raised $42 million. But after a series of primary loses in April, the Sanders campaign brought in a comparatively low $25.8 million. Additionally, each month the Sanders campaign has spent about $1 million more than it has brought in.
After three months of spending more than it raised, the Sanders campaign cut two hundred paid staffers in primary states, reducing their staff size from 550 to between 325-360 workers. But campaign spokesman Michael Briggs insisted that this was a natural part of the campaign’s evolution and had nothing to do with their loses of funds as they “no longer require many of the loyal and dedicated state and national support staffers who helped” in states where the primary already passed.
In March, the Sanders campaign spent $46 million, the largest total so far. While the campaign has yet to release their April spending, Sanders had a packed travel schedule throughout the month and the campaign aired several television and radio ads.
“The early parts of the campaign are where you raise money but now is the point where you spend it,” strategist Nathan Gonzales told the Washington Examiner. “This is the time, this is why you raise months before the election begins. No one is getting any points for saving money.”
In contrast, Hillary Clinton’s campaign has continually brought in more than they spent, slowly growing the amount of cash they have on hand. On Tuesday the Clinton campaign announced that for the first time in 2016 they outraised Sanders, bringing in $26.4 million in April compared to his $25.8 million. The former secretary of state is now turning her focus to the general election, as she is not spending any more money in the remaining primary states.
But as Sanders’ chances of capturing the nomination grow gradually smaller and Clinton begins to assume the role of the prospective nominee, the Vermont senator has changed his tone on the campaign trail. During a rally in Indiana on Monday afternoon Sanders told supporters that his “vision is not about electing a president” but about spreading a message.
With the money Sanders has remaining — the April Federal Elections Committee report showed he had $17.4 million at the beginning of the month — he will be able to continue his campaign through the June 7 California primary and ultimately make it to the floor of the Democratic National Convention.
Sanders is insisting he can force a contested convention, like the one Republicans are contemplating.
“We did do very strong all things considered,” a Sanders staffer told the Washington Examiner. “I don’t see any reason why we would drop out. Based on the numbers alone [a contested convention] will be the reality of it. The campaign is confident.”
