Dems See A Role For Sanders In Helping To Recapture The Senate

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., salutes at a campaign rally at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro district of Los Angeles Friday, May 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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PHILADELPHIA – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) made an effective case Monday night for Democratic presidential nominee and once rival Hillary Clinton from the convention floor. Now the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee believes he could do the same for Democratic senators running down the ballot.

As some of Sanders’ supporters remain on the fence about backing the Democratic Party –especially in light of an email hack that revealed the once chairman of the party had her thumb on the scale for Clinton– Sanders could prove an invaluable asset in swing states, DSCC officials said at a small gathering of reporters Tuesday. The DSCC is charged with electing Democrats to the Senate.

Sadie Weiner, a spokeswoman for the DSCC, confirmed that there are conversations ongoing about how Sanders can help on the trail.

“I think Bernie’s helpful in Wisconsin also for message reasons. The economic populism that he really provided a voice for is something that Russ Feingold is talking about all across the state,” said Christie Roberts, the political director of the DSCC. “I think that beyond just the fundraising help that is a place that he might have a presence.”

When asked where Sanders could have an effect, Martha McKenna, a cofounder at McKenna Pihlaja and former DSCC political director, said “anywhere.”

“I mean anywhere where we are going to be talking about standing up for middle class economic values,” McKenna said.

“These incumbents: Toomey, Ayotte, Portman. They all have a lot of corporate money, a lot of sort of big money in politics problems and, I think Bernie’s really good at bringing those issues to life.”

“I don’t think there are places he’s gonna be a problem,” she said.

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