Dem donors think Bernie's unelectable - 'Draft Biden' movement holding out hope for a savior

It's worth remembering that a presidential candidate isn't just running for the highest office in the land. They're also running to be the de facto leader of his or her party. So, if you're lifelong Democrat donor, 2016 probably scares the heck out you. On one hand you've got a closet socialist with a political glass jaw who's mired in an array of FBI investigations and possible indictments. On the other hand, you've got a proud, geriatric, socialist who appeals to the base but may not have much pull outside of the diehard leftist community. Oh, and he's not even a Democrat. In fact, he spent decades claiming that your party really isn't any different than the GOP. Perhaps that’s why at least some party-loyal donors think a gaffe machine like Joe Biden is their last 2016 hope.

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As Reuters reports:

A prominentDemocratic donor worried about the party’s chances of winning the presidency emailed dozens of fans of Vice President JoeBidenon Friday, urging them to remain prepared to donate if Biden jumps into the race. The donor, Bill Bartmann, cited new polling showing Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont nearly tied with the Hillary Clinton, eroding the 30-point lead the former secretary of state held at the end of last year. Bartmann and other party insiders are concerned that Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, is too far to the left to win against a Republican in the Nov. 8 presidential election. “We cannot afford to lose the White House,” Bartmann wrote in the email, seen by Reuters. The email drew a string of affirmative responses, also seen by Reuters.

Obviously, this isn't the first we've heard of this. Prior to Biden's alleged decision not to run, the "Draft Joe" movement was in full swing and Bartmann was one of its major backers. It fizzled when the Vice President announced that he wouldn't seek the presidency, though many thought his speech sounded curiously like a campaign launch rather than a farewell. Then, a few weeks ago, Biden let it be known that he "regrets" not running "every day." That left a lot of people wondering if Biden is sitting out the early part of the process so that he can jump in as his party's establishment savior should Clinton be indicted or Bernie get too close to the nom. Now it appears that at least some portion of the donor class is still holding out hope that will be the case. Frankly, they're right to hope. Biden (with oft-rumored running mate Elizabeth Warren) would be a far more formidable ticket than either Sanders or Clinton.