The whole "those states are irrelevant" talking point (whether coming from the Sanders' camp regarding the South or from the Clinton's camp regarding the West) is absurd. It's not the GE we're talking about and votes of Democrats in Alabama and Wyoming should not be considered any less important than votes of Democrats from Vermont or Massachusetts.
Exactly. There's no such thing as red states and blue states in the primary. Every state is a blue state.
Also, and let's be clear here: without conservative DINOs, Sanders would have lost Oklahoma and probably not reached the threshold in the Deep South. If anyone is relying on "southern conservatives", it's Bernie.
