BTRTN March 17 Primary Preview: Biden for the Knockout?

[reggieandlee]

Born To Run The Numbers has just posted its predictions for the March 17 primaries, and the implications of those results:

http://www.borntorunthenumbers.com/2020/03/btrtn-march-17-primary-preview-biden.html

Excerpts: "It was just a week ago that the Democratic Party held its first primaries with only Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders on the ballot (and, oh yes, Tulsi Gabbard). We noted that the Democratic race had finally been narrowed down to two contenders -- and 'let the games begin.' Those games, just begun, may very well end with tomorrow’s primaries...
"It is yet another big Tuesday for delegates, the third in a row. A total of 554 pledged delegates are at stake, with Florida (219) the largest prize, followed by Illinois (155), Ohio (136) and Arizona (67). Our BTRTN prediction is that Joe Biden will sweep the March 17 primaries by significant margins in each. He will emerge with approximately 200+ net delegates more than Sanders from these four states alone, giving him a lead of roughly 350 delegates...
"A 350+ Biden delegate lead is insurmountable. Sanders may still stay in the race, for the “platform” it provides... His goal in that instance would be to continue to draw Biden leftward in his policy positions. Biden has already embraced Elizabeth Warren’s bankruptcy bill and tuition-free college plan, and it is not unreasonable to expect that Sanders’ pressure could bring more progressive elements to Biden’s agenda.
"But the view here is that Sanders’ hanging around is unlikely, for three reasons – all related to the coronavirus. First, from a public health standpoint, limiting primary voting turnout is a paramount consideration. Second, Sanders may have a platform as a candidate, but if he cannot hold rallies, it is a vastly reduced one. And finally, it may be unseemly, as the virus spreads, for him to attempt to carry on a futile campaign..."

[oasis]

1. Looks like Ohio could be a scratch off the 3/17 program. nt