“I called about 20 legislators, and almost all of them said they were horrified that Bernie might lead the ticket. They were absolutely depressed and scared and worried, and they told me they were for Joe, but he was going to have to win something, otherwise what mileage would they have endorsing him and looking like they didn’t know what they were doing?” Blanchard told about two dozen campaign volunteers at a union bricklayers hall. “And then South Carolina happened and — boom — here came this explosion of everyone endorsing Joe."