After Biden Win in Mich., Clyburn Calls for DNC to ‘Step in’ and End Primary

After another round of primary victories Tuesday night, the Democratic whip, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), is calling for the Democratic Party to “step in” and endthe primary process early.

“I think it is time for us to shut this primary down it,” Clyburn told NPR. “It is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates.”

Clyburn said he expected Biden to win every contest Tuesday, and that prolonging the primary will only jeopardize his chances against President Trump.

“I think we will be at the part where Joe Biden will be the prohibitive nominee of the party,” Clyburn said. “And I think the DNC, the Democratic National Committee should then step in, make an assessment and determine whether or not we will have any more debates.”

Clyburn drew a parallel with Michael Dukakis’ failed 1988 presidential campaign. Clyburn said that while many people believe the “Willie Horton ad” popularly presumed to have sunk Dukakis’ candidacy came from then Republican challenger George Bush, it actually came from his primary challenger, Al Gore. 

“I remember Al Gore running against Dukakis,” Clyburn said. “A lot of people think that Dukakis lost his election because of Willie Horton ads which was perfected by a South Carolinian who was working for the Republicans at the time, Lee Atwater. If you go back and look at it, and I always study this staff, you will see that the Willie Horton ad did not come from the Atwater. It came from Al Gore in the primary.”

Here’s a transcript:

HOST: “You look at this early results this evening, early calls in Missouri, Mississippi, right out of the gate for Joe Biden, do you think that his campaign has turned it around and do you anticipate that he is on track to be your party’s nominee?”

CLYBURN: “Yes, I do. I really do. I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination. And quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, then I think it is time for us to set this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates, because you don’t do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue this contest when it is obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you.”

HOST: “Just to be clear, are you saying that if Bernie Sanders does not win any states tonight, you believe he should exit the race?”

CLYBURN: “Well, I think if he does not win any contest tonight, I think we will be at the point where Joe Biden will be the prohibitive nominee of the party, and I think the DNC, the Democratic National Committee, should then step in, make an assessment and determine whether or not they ought to have any more debates. The contest will still go on, but I will tell you about these debates. I remember Al Gore running against Dukakis. A lot of people think that Dukakis lost his election because of Willie Horton ads which was perfected by a South Carolinian who was working for the Republicans at the time, Lee Atwater. If you go back and look at it, and I always study this staff, you will see that the Willie Horton ad did not come from the Atwater. It came from Al Gore in the primary.”

HOST: “So you think a prolonged primary will only hurt the nominee?”

CLYBURN: “That is exactly what I think. Because if you get to the point that it gets contentious, people will say things, things will happen that you might not ever overcome.”