Here's a surprise -- or maybe not so much: MoveOn, one of the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots groups -- the Democratic action committee most responsible for mobilizing Barack Obama's hugely successful Internet fundraising campaign through its MoveOn.org website in 2008 -- will back Bernie Sanders in 2016, not Hillary Clinton.
Sanders won the group’s endorsement with more than 78 percent of the vote, shattering MoveOn records with most votes cast and largest margin of victory.
The lengthy MoveOn announcement did not even once mention Hillary Clinton's name.
Hillary Clinton didn't help herself to win support of the 8 million-member organization when she declined to participate in a virtual presidential candidates’ forum in November, which MoveOn.org hosted.
“It’s a shame that Secretary Clinton declined to participate in the MoveOn member forum,” Anna Galland, the executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action, said in a statement to MSNBC at the time. “She missed an opportunity to speak directly to and energize the progressive base she’ll need in her corner, not just to win the nomination but also the general election, if she is the party’s nominee.”
Insiders say Clinton never got over MoveOn's snub of her own candidacy in 2008 -- that the group sought "to leave her in the dust" -- but this time she believes she sewed up the base's contributions long ago.
Meanwhile, MoveOn Executive Director Ilya Sheyman will mobilize in support of Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary, with initial focus on turning out 43,000 Iowa and 30,000 New Hampshire MoveOn members -- early states where polling shows a neck-and-neck race just weeks out.
Sheyman says the group is joining the political revolution backing the Vermont senator at what it considers a crucial juncture in the presidential contest. Sanders gained an overwhelming 78.6 percent of the 340,665 votes cast by MoveOn members.
Fellow Democrats Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley secured 14.6 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively, and 5.9 percent of votes were cast in favor of not endorsing. 340,665 total votes were cast, marking the most of any MoveOn endorsement vote.
“This is a massive vote in favor of Bernie Sanders, showing that grassroots progressives across the country are excited and inspired by his message and track record of standing up to big money and corporate interests to reclaim our democracy for the American people,” said Sheyman. “MoveOn members are feeling the Bern. We will mobilize aggressively to add our collective people power to the growing movement behind the Sanders campaign, starting with a focus on voter turnout in Iowa and New Hampshire.”
Sheyman and MoveOn staff announced the results of the vote in an email to members on Tuesday.
“I’m proud to have MoveOn and its community of millions of members join our people-powered campaign,” Sanders said. “MoveOn has spent more than 17 years bringing people together to fight for progressive change and stand up against big money interests. MoveOn's fight to give the American people a voice in our political system was reflected in the group's internal democratic process. I'm humbled by their support and welcome MoveOn's members to the political revolution."
As of this writing, Clinton hadn't issued a statement in reaction to the MoveOn vote.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
