Clinton Campaign Finds Sanders Useful

Rick Klein: “It may be an accident of timing that the week the Clinton campaign chose to focus on national press was also the week the national press woke up to the big crowds and big dollars flowing to Bernie Sanders. (And it’s worth noting that the walking rope pen also preceded the first national TV interview Hillary Clinton granted.) But in either context, the Clinton camp’s response to Sanders’ buzz suggests that they find utility in the attention he’s getting. ‘I always thought this would be a competitive race,’ Clinton told CNN’s Brianna Keilar.”

“She may actually have always thought that, and people around her may actually have said that publicly with some consistency. Don’t mistake that, though, for their actual read of the potential race against Sanders, either before or after the crowds starting coming out for Sanders. When stories emerge about how the Clinton campaign is concerned about Sanders’ rise, that’s the surest sign that Sanders is useful at this point in the race for Camp Clinton.”