In North Carolina last night, Bernie Sanders beat the establishment. He garnered 24% of the vote and the political establishment’s candidate, Michael Bloomberg, only got 13%. Joe Biden beat them both. 

Bernie Sanders has been telling us that he’s running against the political establishment as if it were a unified cabal of greedy politicians and their super rich handlers. In North Carolina the bulk of that group lined up behind Michael Bloomberg. The former New York Mayor secured the endorsements of the mayors of the state’s two largest cities as well as the minority leaders of the state house and senate. He also landed endorsements of mayors of small and midsized cities, business leaders and former political leaders. Bernie beat them all. 

Biden, though, won with voters, particularly black ones. While Sanders likes to brag about his diverse coalition, Biden actually has one. According to exit polls, he won among black voters and he won among white voters. He won non-college educated white voters and college educated white voters. While Sanders did better with Hispanics than Biden, the former vice president wasn’t shut out by them. Biden’s coalition reflects the demographics of the Democratic Party and the nation as a whole. It’s a recipe for success in November.

In addition, the man who constantly complains about money in politics outspent Biden by massive amounts of money. Biden also lacked the field offices that so many used as measuring sticks of organization and support. And finally, the promised surge in Bernie voters never occurred. For a man who is hinging his whole electoral strategy on expanding the electorate, Sanders is doing more to debunk his theory of campaigning than to prove it.

So here are a few takeaways from this primary. The establishment may exist but it’s neither unified nor very influential. It’s an amorphous boogieman that Sanders uses to unite his base in anger, not unlike the way authoritarian leaders in other countries use prejudice against minority groups to incite supporters. Big money and lavish attention might impress political insiders but it doesn’t do much for the voters who actually determine elections. Biden’s foibles, fumbles and misstatements are all part of the package and voters don’t care anymore about them than they did about Trump’s boorish behavior. They want a candidate who can beat Trump and believe Biden’s broad support is the best way to do it. Finally, Democrats were looking for somebody who could unite them instead of divide them. Bernie’s message of taking on the “establishment” runs contrary to that idea. 

Thomas Mills

Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >