TheChat: Democrats trying to (gently) nudge Bernie Sanders from race

Good morning.

▪ “He’s obviously struggling and in great internal conflict about what’s going on. He knows intellectually that he can’t win, but he can’t stop himself. . . . There is part of him that doesn’t want to quit.” — former Vermont governor Howard Dean, a Clinton supporter, speaking about Bernie Sanders.

Well-organized efforts are underway to unify the Democratic party. Among those leading the efforts: President Obama, Vice President Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

▪ “The similarities between Trump and Yoder are striking — and frightening.” — Democrat Kelly Kultala, a Kansas City, Kan., Democrat who lost to Congressman Kevin Yoder in 2014, in an email blast backing Democrat Jay Sidie to run against Yoder this year.

Sidie is running in the August Democratic primary. Kultala’s remark is another sign that Democrats are eager to tie Republicans to the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

▪ “I don’t think anyone looking objectively at TSA over the last couple of years would say that the bonus pool should be really big.” — Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill questioning why a recently resigned top administrator had received nearly $100,000 in bonus payments spread out over more than a year to avoid detection.

Reports of long waits at airports have received all manner of negative attention for the TSA. McCaskill pointed out that in the private sector, bonuses are often based on a company’s performance.

▪ “That seems to be the fastest, safest way to do it.” — Kansas state Rep. Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat, agreeing that $38 million is a figure for increased school spending that both Democrats and Republicans have embraced to meet a state Supreme Court order.

Gov. Sam Brownback is appearing to suggest that he’ll cut programs to come up with the money — not raise taxes.