Netroots progressives say this year it's only Trump

PHILADELPHIA – Progressive voters at this year's Netroots Nation Activists Conference say they are ready to put their weight behind any candidate who has won the Democratic nomination.

Despite the fierce battle between 25 Democrats currently contesting the party's bid, a remarkable number of the Netroots crowd over the weekend have expressed their willingness to support the one who will ultimately win the party's nomination, even if he is a more centrist candidate.

"For me, it's Bernie [Sanders] or Elizabeth [Warren]And, obviously, to all those who will be nominated, I will vote for, "said Natalia Reyes, a participant from New York.

"It could be Mickey Mouse," she says.

While progressive figures such as Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenTrump complains of "fake polls" after polls show him that he is lagging behind several Democratic candidates. The Amazon warehouse workers are on strike the first day. Elizabeth Warren supports Amazon workers on strike the first day. MORE (D-Mass.) And Bernie SandersBernie SandersTrump complains of "fake polls" after polls show him that he is lagging behind several Democratic candidates. The Hill & # 39; s Morning – Presented by JUUL Labs – Trump's Attack on Progressive Dems Arouses Vivid Reprimands Judd Gregg: Counting the Cost of Desires of Democrats MORE (I-Vt.) Are the favorites of many leftist participants, the position represented a noticeable change of perspective compared to 2016. Only a handful of people surveyed by The Hill said that they would likely vote for a candidate from third party. if Warren or Sanders have not received the nod.

And the reason was also clear. Participants, above all, want President TrumpDonald John TrumpCNN clashes with Trump's immigration center over the president's tweet The LA Times editorial board calls Trump a "bigot in chief" Trump complains of "fake polls" after polls reveal him. have shown by dragging several Democratic candidates NEXT out of the White House.

"Trump will not be four years older. It's a matter of survival, "said Armani Gladden of Brooklyn, who says she prefers Warren. "God forbid, it's up to someone I do not want to … but I want to make sure that it does not happen again."

Nicole Carty of Brooklyn said the top priority was to defeat Trump.

"No question, because Trump is the worst version of what America is, it creates and dehumanizes entire populations, and we can not allow this to continue," she said. that this continues now, and we can not take more than four years of this period. "

Netroots had its strongest participation this year: 4,000 people attended the three-day conference on progressive activism issues.

Four Democratic candidates, Warren, Washington Gov. Jay InsleeJay Robert InsleeInslee announced that he would ask footballer Megan Rapinoe to be secretary of state. The Trump administration suspends sanctions related to the energy shortage imposed by Obama. House Passes Defense Bill with "Chemicals Forever" Measure | Five Things to Watch While Barry Barrels in the Gulf MORE, Sen. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten Elizabeth GillibrandThe Hill & # 39; s Morning Report – Presented by JUUL Labs – Trump's Attack on Progressive Dems Draws Sharpen Eyes (N.Y.) and Julián Castro, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, took the floor on Saturday in the keynote speech.

In the past, candidates used the event as a springboard for their campaigns.

Sanders last spoke at the 2015 conference several months before his campaign energized progressive voters in the 2016 Democratic primary. Sanders lost a hotly contested primary to Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump complains of "fake polls" after polls show him that he hangs behind several Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton responds to Trump's tweets urging Dem legislators to "return" to their country., a candidate for the establishment who, on the left, did not join to defeat Trump.

Sanders campaigned for Clinton, but was criticized that he could have done more to energize his supporters and that he stayed too long in the main race against Clinton.

Some people who voted for a third party candidate after Sanders' defeat at the 2016 primaries said they did not think their votes would cost Democrats the White House. But they also said that they would not do it by 2020.

"I voted for [Green Party] Candidate Jill Stein, but I acted strategically because I was in New York and I knew New York was going to be blue no matter … it was a privileged vote, "said Reyes, who said that she would no longer consider voting for a third party.

"If you live in a rotating state, you will not be able to vote for a third-party candidate," Reyes said. "I think a lot of voices on the left have not clarified this distinction, and I have become a little cynical in that I do not trust the average voter to understand these nuances."

Stein in 2016 got 51,463 votes in Michigan, which Clinton lost to Trump by 10,704 votes. In Wisconsin, Stein collected 31,006 votes. Trump's margin on Clinton in the state was 22,177.

"It's sad to say that America has a traditional two-party system, and I think we're working to fix it in one way or another, and I do not think it's there yet." said Linda Moua, a participant from Minnesota.

"So now, if I want to be really honest, I would vote for any Democratic candidate," she said.

Some Netroots participants said that voting for a third-party candidate was a possibility for them.

"I do not know if any of these candidates will run on a third-party line and that's what I'll wait to see. Who will have the balls to run on a third-party line, "said Ekoyo Atkins of Brooklyn, who voted for Sanders in the 2016 primary and Clinton in the general.

Gladden said that he would wait too.

"It depends on the person," he says. "I also want to win. I do not want to lose again … So you have to look at this from a very sensible idea: "Where are the numbers going?"

Jake DeGroot, of New York, explained the thing in another way: "I think the elections are a decisive element for the fight you want to lead."

"I would much rather fight on a pitch where even the worst of Democrats lays the foundation, instead of being prepared by Trump."