As kids these days say, BOOM, THERE IT IS. Just a few months ago, and after Clinton had done likewise, the Sanders campaign took a step that eased some concerns among superdelegates (and other attentive party members). By signing that agreement Bernie sent a message that will he help the party and raise money to help elect and re-elect downticket Democratic candidates. (Quite a few of them, it must be noted, are themselves superdelegates.)

With two words, Bernie Sanders destroyed those hopes.

"We'll see."

Hillary Clinton has been tirelessly raising money not just for herself, but also for the party. When Sanders recently attacked Clinton's high-dollar fundraiser with George Clooney as "obscene," it was lost on the general public, but not on party insiders, that he was attacking a fundraiser for the DNC and state parties. Of the $300K+ entrance fee, no more than $5,400 went directly to the Clinton campaign ($2,700 for primaries, $2,700 for general election) if the donor in question hadn't already maxed out on such contributions. The rest went to Hillary's Victory Fund, which then disbursed the maximum allowable share of that contribution to the DNC, and the remainder to 33 state party organizations that had joined forces with Clinton.

There are superdelegates who will receive state and/or national support for their campaigns directly from those contributions Sanders called "obscene," and in this interview he confirms that his only focus is on fundraising for himself, and "we'll see" about helping others later on.

I suspect that within minutes of that interview airing, an email went out from the Clinton campaign to everyone in the DNC and all superdelegates with the heading "We'll See?"

Bernie just reneged on the last hope Democrats had that he would lift a finger to help shift the balance in Congress and in state governments. He claims he'd be better for the party as its frontrunner, but somehow his amazing charisma, which has so far turned out fewer voters and won fewer delegates, will magically lift downticket Dems to victory.

The cold hard reality is that if Sanders were the nominee, he would be an anchor around the neck of many of those downticket Dems. Most represent states and districts that are not predisposed to like "socialists," and the vast majority of them won't even want to be seen in his company at campaign rallies. If you thought Dems ran from President Obama in 2014, you haven't seen anything yet. When "Will you vote for Bernie Sanders?" becomes a "gotcha" question for Senate and House candidates that they will struggle to answer, it doesn't bode well.

As Team Sanders attempts to woo superdelegates, I imagine they won't find a receptive audience.

The Contrast

In summary, in these dueling interviews, both candidates attempted to draw contrasts with each other, as well as with their ultimate Republican opponent. But Clinton did a much better job of persuading Democratic Party voters that she's the best representative of the party and its platform for the general election. She was most convincing in articulating the contrasts she will draw, and how that will benefit Democrats up and down the ballot.

Oh the other hand, Bernie Sanders was far less effective at proving his worth as the top of the Democratic ticket. Even worse, he seriously undermined his own campaign's assertion that he can win over enough superdelegates to swing the nomination his way. Speaking to a largely Democratic audience, seeking the best Democrat to run for president, Sanders only reminded them how he's never been (or wanted to be) a member of the team.

While the next primary in Wisconsin may be fertile ground for Sanders, the April onslaught of closed primaries in major states with large numbers of delegates, and where Clinton is heavily favored, will remain out of reach to Sanders after this performance. Sanders will run out of opportunities to run up the score in pledged delegates, and he just killed his own campaign's strategy for luring superdelegates to his side.