The war of words over Saturday’s Democratic state convention in Nevada is growing.
To review: Democrats met Saturday in Nevada to pick delegates to the national convention. Hillary Clinton narrowly won the state’s caucuses, but supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders had worked to elect delegates at the county level they hoped would loosen the rules and allow more Sanders delegates on the state party ballot.
The meeting ended badly when state party officials denied the Sanders’ campaign request to alter the rules, appearing to favor the Clinton forces. Security left the building at the end and there were reports of violent incidents, including death threats aimed at the party’s chairwoman.
The meeting went on far past its scheduled end, further angering some participants and apparently adding to the confusion and anger.
Those reporters prompted Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to issue a statement Tuesday calling on both campaigns to denounce the violence. “Our democracy is undermined any time threats, intimidation, physical violence or damage to property are present,” her statement said. “If there are legitimate concerns, they must be addressed in an orderly, civil and peaceful manner.”
But the Sanders campaign showed little interest in cooling the rhetoric.
“The Democratic Party has a choice,” Sanders said in a statement. “It can open its doors and welcome into the party people who are prepared to fight for real economic and social change … or the party can choose to maintain its status quo structure, remain dependent on big-money campaign contributions and be a party with limited participation and limited energy.”
Some Sanders supporters believe Wasserman Schultz has favored Clinton during the primary season.
As voters in Oregon and Kentucky case primary ballots Tuesday, the continuing disruption among Democrats is making some party officials nervous. For weeks, politicos have warned of potential violence at the Republican Convention in Cleveland; now, some are suggesting violence is possible in Philadelphia when Democrats gather.
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