Elections

Supporters to Sanders: Don’t give our data to DNC, Hillary Clinton

By William Douglas

wdouglas@mcclatchydc.com

June 18, 2016 10:06 PM

Presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders prepares to speak for a video to supporters at Polaris Mediaworks on Thursday June 16, 2016 in Burlington, Vt. Matt McClain AP
CHICAGO

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders famously declared last year that Americans are "sick and tired" of hearing about presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s "damn emails" and her private server controversy.

But it was Sanders’ emails that generated much of the talk over the weekend at the People’s Summit, a gathering of about 3,000 Sanders supporters who are trying to figure out how to keep the far-left momentum from his campaign alive once he exits the presidential race.

The Vermont senator’s presidential campaign has developed a formidable and valuable email list of donors that helped rake in nearly $207.7 million from about seven million individuals who donated in small amounts.

Asked Friday if Sanders should hand over his donor list to the Democratic National Committee or the Clinton campaign, a panel moderated by “Democracy Now!” co-host Juan Gonzalez voiced their opposition.

June 18, 2016
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But former Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner, a Democrat and Sanders supporter, said "he ran as a Democrat, and I’ve run, too, and so when you run your list kind of becomes property, if you will, of the DNC."

"But the senator has been very clear that the secretary (Clinton) has to earn his voter’s trust," she added.

Dominique Scott, a 21-year-old University of Mississippi student who attended the summit Saturday, argued that Sanders shouldn’t hand over his list because "there are reasons why people didn’t support Clinton in the first place."

"She has her own donors," Scott said. "She has plenty of money."

Clinton’s campaign has raised nearly $204.3 million. The Atlantic reported earlier this month that one Sanders supporter begged him on Reddit not to turn over his information to the DNC or Clinton. His plea was upvoted more than 4,000 times.

William Douglas: 202-383-6026, @williamgdouglas