Bernie Sanders Endorses Wasserman Schultz’s Primary Opponent — Supporters Plan Massive Protest At Democratic Convention

Bernie Sanders, in a stinging rebuke of Congresswoman and Democratic Party Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, has endorsed her primary opponent, the Washington Examiner is reporting.

“A loss could effectively end her chairmanship of the DNC,” the Washington Examiner said.

Sanders was asked if he supported Wasserman Schultz in her primary against challenger Tim Canova.

“Well, clearly, I favor her opponent,” Sanders told Jake Tapper on CNN’s State Of The Nation. “His views are much closer to mine than as to Wasserman Shultz’s.”

Canova teaches at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law in Fort Lauderdale. In 2001, he served on Sanders’ Wall Street reform advisory panel. He holds similar views to Sanders on trade and regulating Wall Street.

Sanders added that if he were elected president, he would not renew her chairmanship of the DNC.

Army of Sanders supporters fuming over Wasserman Schultz https://t.co/DRxuU5lgmB #DebbieDowner #TypicalDebbie #WhatDidYouExpectFromDebbie

— AMERICAN SCOUSE (@LazCab) May 21, 2016

While Wasserman Schultz has always pledged that she would remain neutral, Sanders’ campaign manager and supporters have accused her of favoring former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Among their complaints, according to CNN:

• scheduling Democratic debates on Saturday and Sunday evening, when most people aren’t watching;
• closed primaries, especially in New York, Clinton’s home state;
• the use of superdelegates (Clinton leads Sanders 1,768 to 1,494 among regular delegates, but by a whopping 525-39 among superdelegates, according to Real Clear Politics).

.@Tim_Canova responds to @BernieSanders endorsing him over DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in FL-23. pic.twitter.com/qK2Qa15LC6

— Los Angeles Lawyer (@AnLALawyer) May 21, 2016

Wasserman Schultz strongly criticized Sanders for not doing enough to quell his supporters at the recent Democratic convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, CNN reported. Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, responded by telling CNN, “We can have a long conversation about Debbie Wasserman Schultz just about how she’s been throwing shade on the Sanders campaign from the very beginning.”

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It does not seem likely that the rancor between Sanders and Wasserman Schultz is going to abate any time soon.

“The Sanders campaign’s desire to get rid of Wasserman Schultz increases the odds of a tumult at the Democratic convention in July,” the Washington Examiner reported. “Sanders has called for a political revolution, and he may spark a revolt in the Democratic Party even if he loses the nomination to Hillary Clinton.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sanders’ supporters have secured four demonstration permits near the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia this summer.

“One of the permits is for an event consisting of four days of all-day rallies at FDR Park in support of Mr. Sanders,” the Journal said. “The city said it expects 30,000 participants, and organizers said in an interview they hope turnout will be much higher.”

The location is right next to the Wells Fargo Center, which is where many events sponsored by the Democratic Convention will be held.

The Journal also reported that many prominent Democrats are worried that Sanders and his supporters could be disruptive, and even invoked memories of the 1968 convention, which many believe played a role in eventual candidate Hubert Humphrey’s loss to GOP nominee Richard Nixon that year.

What do you think? Will Bernie Sanders’ endorsement of Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s primary opponent help him win? And do you think she has been biased towards Hillary Clinton, as Sanders’ campaign manager asserted?

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]