Nice comparison. Could you do an update to extend the comparison to the current date?

.. I think Sanders should stay in, and that every state should vote for the candidate they prefer, because I feel that this year’s primary has turned in to a referendum on what the future of the Democratic party should look like.

I see your case there but I don’t entirely agree with it. I place more emphasis and weight on stopping Trump and the Republicans from taking over the White House as top priority and thus I think anything that hurts that and that de facto helps Trump is something that should be avoided.

I think Sanders staying in even though it has long been clear that he will NOT be the Democratic party nominee is hurting the party and ultimately making a Trump victory more likely. The sooner the Democrats can stop the ongoing attacks on Hillary Clinton from their own side and start strongly supporting her for the Presidential election the better.

I like Bernie Sanders and his policies but pragmatically and with the perspective of doing the most good and least harm I think Sanders should bow out gracefully now -in fact should have already done so. he should also call upon his supporters to stop bashing Hillary Clinton and to make sure they support her and don’t stay home and thereby lead to a Trump victory.

I also think that Hillary Clinton could do more here to help this including possibly making him her running mate which I think would be a good ticket. That option seems to get less likely the longer Bernie Sanders stays in and keeps letting his worst supporters say the worst things and make the vilest attacks about the person who is now the only alternative to a Donald Trump presidency.

This election will have dramatic impacts on the globe and all who live on it. Please choose wisely.

I feel that the timeline probably has more to do with people arguing over Sanders conceding, than the delegate gap vs remaining ratios. They’re getting upset because they want their nominee to pivot to the general.

The emotions are even hotter because the Republicans were able to finish early, and have a head start on consolidating their base and focusing their attack.

The way the 2008 and 2016 primary calendars were different makes them somewhat incomparable when taking into account the pressure of the time left before the convention. California voted on February 5th in 2008, but is still up for grabs today. At this point in 2008, the primary with the most delegates remaining was Puerto Rico.

To conclude, I understand why people would want Sanders to concede the nomination, and if the same situation was present in 2008, Clinton would be getting just as much heat. I don’t think it’s just about the delegate math though, it’s more to do with the scenario. I think Sanders should stay in, and that every state should vote for the candidate they prefer, because I feel that this year’s primary has turned in to a referendum on what the future of the Democratic party should look like. Someone like Sanders ending up with 45% of the primary votes sends a very clear message to the DNC, and hopefully, the party will unite again when the convention is over.

Better to scale it to percent of total delegates awarded so far rather than the o time.

2016 – Pledged delegates as of now
Needed Remaining Percent
2,383 921 38.6%
Clinton Sanders Difference
1,768 1,497 271

2008 – Pledged delegates as of 5/1/2008
Needed Remaining Percent
2,118 408 19.2%
Obama Clinton Difference
1,556 1,420 136

Difference to remaining ratio (needs X% more delegates than front-runner to break even)
2008 2016
33% 29%

Clinton was further behind Obama on 5/1/2008 in regards to percentage of delegates behind, than Sanders is today.

Jill, I’m not looking at super delegates at all, only pledged delegates