What will it take for Bernie Sanders to finally endorse presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton? Even his staffers can’t explain.
During a web address that stopped just short of a concession speech last week, Sanders told supporters that while he would help defeat Donald Trump, his assistance would come at a price. He detailed a laundry list of progressive issues he’s pushing the Democratic Party to adopt, but failed to specify which issues the party absolutely must accept if they want his support.
It’s left many people — including some in his own inner circle — wondering what exactly he’s fighting for, and what it will take for him to stop fighting.
“I don’t really know the specifics,” Sanders’ Senate communications director, Josh Miller-Lewis, told the Washington Examiner when asked which policies Sanders needed Clinton to adopt before he endorsed her. “It’s just the policies that he’s been talking about over the course of the campaign. His goal is really just to get the Democratic Party to adopt the most progressive platform possible.”
Sanders often says he wants a Democratic Party that supports the working class, the poor and those without health insurance. Sanders also said the party must be prepared “to stand up to the powerful corporate interests whose greed is doing so much damage to this country.” Then he’s called for Clinton to adopt more progressive positions on the minimum wage, paid family leave, trade policy and climate change.
Maybe most importantly, the Vermont senator also wants to overhaul the current Democratic Party leadership. The biggest change would be ousting Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, with whom Sanders has had numerous disagreements along the campaign trail.
Thus far, Clinton has adopted few items off Sanders’ agenda. On the primary trail she shifted her views on the Keystone XL Pipeline and the Trans-Pacific Partnership to the left. She has sidelined Wasserman Schultz at the DNC, but hasn’t removed her as chair.
A Sanders campaign official who chose to remain anonymous said that he’s not sure what Sanders’ exact demands to the Democratic Party will be, but that the senator is aiming for as much influence at the Democratic National Convention as he can possibly have. “I would imagine [Sanders wants] whatever the most prime spot would be, and I think he’s entitled to that,” he said.
But when it comes to an endorsement, “What he’s going to do in regards to the secretary, he’s got to be really careful. I would stay tuned I think you’ll see more in the next week or so. He’s trying to navigate some very interesting waters right now.”
Last week, Sanders met with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., These Democratic leaders have all endorsed Clinton as the party nominee. Along the campaign trail, Clinton and her supporters are attempting to unify the Democratic voters and stand in opposition to Trump’s divided GOP. But Sanders remains in limbo, remaining an active candidate but not longer taking steps to deny Clinton a majority of delegates.
Sanders campaign spokesman Michael Briggs spoke in broad terms when asked about the specific actions Clinton needs to take in order to earn the Vermont senator’s endorsement, saying “we don’t look at it that way, we’re in the middle of discussions with Secretary Clinton”
Briggs emphasized that in the coming weeks the Sanders campaign is focused on getting as many of their core campaign issues — a $15 minimum wage, expanded paid family leave and climate change legislation — featured on the Democratic Party platform as possible. But in terms on an endorsement, Briggs says “the process is going to work itself out.”
Those outside the campaign apparatus have their doubts the endorsement will ever come through.
“What it will it take for [Sanders supporters] to go away? What will it take for them to elect Hillary Clinton? They may never vote for her, or even vote at all. It’s up to Sanders. But it will most likely occur after the convention,” Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf told the Examiner.
But he cautioned, “Bernie Sanders is not a guy that responds to pressure. He does what he wants when he wants it.”

