By Kevin Hart, Publisher

Well, the results are in.

Democratic voters have proven that, when given the choice between Hillary Clinton and a guy who’s not really a Democrat, they’ll choose Hillary.

Barely.

For months, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was like a high-powered locomotive, barreling over obstacles on his longshot quest to capture the Democratic party’s nomination.

But now that same party has Sanders tied to the tracks — and, sadly, he doesn’t seem to realize it. Now, the only way for Sanders to maintain his national political relevance is for him to immediately transition his campaign to a third-party bid.

And at least one party is reportedly ready to accept Sanders with open arms — something that the Democratic establishment never did.

But first things first. While he hasn’t suspended his presidential campaign yet, Sanders has claimed he’s committed to working toward Democratic party unity.

Unfortunately, Sanders’ continued cooperation with the Democrats is based on three serious miscalculations that could soon blow up in his face.

Miscalculation #1: Sanders can flip enough superdelegates to force a contested convention

Statistically speaking, this is about as likely as winning the lottery while being struck by lightning. Superdelegates are party insiders free to support any candidate they choose — and Clinton has been their candidate of choice from Day One. To date, Sanders has demonstrated no ability to encourage superdelegates to change their minds.

Miscalculation #2: Sanders can use his leverage to force rules changes or the ouster of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz

First, once Sanders is out of the race, his leverage is going to dry up quickly (it’s already drying up). He’ll be banished to the dark shadows of the Democratic party.

And while there’s talk of ousting Wasserman Schultz to appease Sanders, the fact is that she’s going to be fired anyway. Congressional leaders admit they’ve been discussing it for weeks, and that she’s no longer a viable or credible leader.

Miscalculation #3: A Clinton indictment could give Sanders the nomination

Even if Hillary Clinton is indicted as a result of her mishandling of classified information, the notion that the Democratic party will fork over the nomination to Sanders is a fantasy. The Democratic establishment views Sanders’ campaign with disdain. His attempted insurrection will not be rewarded, nor forgotten.

Sanders only remaining leverage now is to at least remain open to a third-party bid. And he has a home waiting for him with the Green Party.

The Green Party has been on the fringe of American politics for years. But it has run bona fide candidates in the past, including Ralph Nader and former six-term Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

And as a far-left party, the Greens may even be a better ideological fit for Sanders.

The Green Party doesn’t hold its nominating convention until August, and presumptive nominee Dr. Jill Stein has hinted that she’d be willing to stand aside for Sanders. The Green Party would give Sanders overnight access to 31 state ballots, enough to make him a credible threat.

Sanders has so far expressed reluctance to carry the Green Party torch, for fear that he’d be handing the election to Donald Trump. But Sanders needs to ask himself why he should defend a Democratic party that did everything it could to railroad him — and whether he’s comfortable asking his supporters to back a candidate like Clinton, who they clearly have no enthusiasm for.

Some Trump supporters will blanch at the idea of a Sanders third-party bid, because they’re holding out hope of wooing his supporters. But the notion that these ultra-left voters will find their way, en masse, to the GOP is not where I’d place my bet.

Sanders has been mistreated by the Democrats since he entered the presidential race and dared to challenge Clinton’s coronation. It’s about to get a whole lot worse if he stays under the Democratic tent.

Everything Sanders stood for and fought for is at risk if he doesn’t make a move soon. And at least considering a third-party bid is the only leverage — and move — he has left.



— Kevin Hart is publisher of The Horn News.