Why is Sanders lagging in endorsements?

[Crumpets]

As far as I know, the highest ranking currently elected official to endorse him is Doug Hoffer, the Vermont Auditor of Accounts. Is he just so far out of the establishment that nobody in the Democratic Caucus is willing to endorse him?

Also, if he were to win the endorsement of a sitting Congressman, Senator, Governor, or someone in the cabinet, who do you think would be most likely?

[pbrower2a]

Endorsements do little good this early and can backfire. 

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Because anyone notable who endorses Sanders risks ending up dead. Hillary killed Vince Foster; she is not afraid to kill another.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Endorsing a non-Clinton candidate in some regards could be akin to political suicide because Clinton is supposed to be the inevitable choice for Democrats.

[Maxwell]

Most suspect that either Clinton will ultimately sweep against Sanders, and thus their endorsement will only mean pain, or if Clinton does get a legitimate challenge, it won't be from Sanders.

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

Agree with what the above posters have stated. Here are some sources to confirm:


http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-hillary-clinton-steamroller-rumbles-to-life/

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-endorsement-primary/

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Because he is a SOCIALIST LOON- WHO is up against the MOST qualified person EVER to run for President of the United States.....

DUH!!!

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

Because he is a SOCIALIST LOON- WHO is up against the MOST qualified person EVER to run for President of the United States.....

DUH!!!

George H.W. Bush served as a U.S. congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, chairman of the Republican National Committee, chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to China, director of the C.I.A, and vice president under Ronald Reagan.

Sounds just as, if not more qualified than a two term Senator and Secretary of State.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

He hasnt run for anything other than Congress and he doesnt have any personal ties to elected officials like Clintons do.  He ran for president without being a natl official.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Because he is a SOCIALIST LOON- WHO is up against the MOST qualified person EVER to run for President of the United States.....

DUH!!!

Good to see you Clarence! I see we still disagree as much as we did back in 2012 .

[Kingpoleon]

He hasnt run for anything other than Congress and he doesnt have any personal ties to elected officials like Clintons do.  He ran for president without being a natl officia

He has ran for: Governor, Senator, Representative, and Mayor. Sanders has the most political experience in the field.

That said, Keith Ellison or Angus King(the latter out of sympathy) might endorse him without hurting their chances in their respective states.

[heatmaster]

Clarence,  you think? I have a Bijon Frise dog who is more qualified than Hillary, DUH! do yourself a favor, stop drinking the kool-aid.  Only reason Bernie Sanders is lagging in endorsements has nothing to do with Hillary's 'qualifications', excuse me again, but what are they again, besides being perceived as untrustworthy and dishonest?  Yeah remind me not to argue with your well thought out arguments, advocating Hillary's 'qualifications' and 'achievements'. Sanders has won no endorsements,  because he was not seen as a "credible" alternative, yet the guy is polling at 36% compared to 43% for Hillary in New Hampshire. Yeah I  can see how Hillary is the runaway favorite, with being the most qualified person ever. Well if Sanders is doing so badly, you will love Jeb Bush, John Kasich or Marco Rubio,  who have something better than all of Hillary's qualifications, AUTHENCITY😊

[Mehmentum]

The main reasons are:

a). He's unelectable, and not just because he's a socialist.  If a far left candidate emerged that was younger and more charismatic, you'd see at least a few people endorsing them, instead of the absolute silence Sanders has been receiving.

b). Clinton is The Frontrunner.  Nobody wants to go up against a juggernaut.

c). The Clintons have a lot of influence in the party.  I don't think its quite as big as the Bushes are in the GOP, but its definitely there.

But there's also:

d). Sanders is technically from outside the party.  He's (purposefully) run as an independent, and that probably turns some in the establishment away from him.

e). Clinton has worked hard to position herself at the center of the party.  Sanders has some unorthodox positions.  Yes, there's his left wing economics, but there's also gun control and immigration, where his views are to the right of most Democrats.

[Famous Mortimer]

It's not as if O'Malley, Chafee, and Webb are lighting up the endorsement boards either.

[SWE]

Sanders isn't a serious candidate

[All Along The Watchtower]

You're talking about notable Democratic politicians  - literally, the party Establishment.

Kinda obvious why they don't endorse a gadfly Senator from Vermont, his local popularity and progressive activist credentials notwithstanding.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Most suspect that either Clinton will ultimately sweep against Sanders, and thus their endorsement will only mean pain, or if Clinton does get a legitimate challenge, it won't be from Sanders.

Pretty much.