If the Democratic nomination processes is fought until the end it may seriously damage the Democratic chances of winning the general election. We are taught not to give up, to fight to the end , to not loose hope. That depends, however, what you are fighting for.

The Democratic candidates want to become the next president of the United States. The more they beat each other up to gain the nomination, the more the Republican candidate benefits. They may win the nomination, but come away from the fight so battered, they may lose the general election. The fight will have an impact on the image of the Democratic Party. Reflecting on this, is it really prudent to fight to the end?

Taking a look at the presidential primaries of the past. In the past, when it becomes evident that a candidate has taken the lead. The other candidates have bowed out. Looking toward the nominating convention, they want the party to show unity. Taking a special look at the primary season of 1976, there were two close races. Jimmy Carter didn’t win decisively, but in the end his opponents put their support behind him, even though they had fought hard to defeat him[1]. On the Republican side the race went into the convention without a winner. Gerald Ford did win the nomination on the first ballot, but Reagan never ceded defeat and pushed a delegate vote. That was the last last time the nominee was decided at the convention and not the primaries[2]. Ford lost to Carter in the general election.

Looking at history, a fight to the end, especially when there is a clear front runner bodes ill for the general election.

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