After asking on Wednesday whether Bernie Sanders “knows when the game is over,” on Thursday’s NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer lamented that the Democratic presidential candidate was “digging in his heels despite speculation over whether it is time for him to bow out of the race.”
Correspondent Andrea Mitchell confirmed: “That's what all Democrats are talking about, Matt.” She highlighted DNC fears over the ongoing primary contest: “Hillary Clinton with a prohibitive lead in delegates, but Bernie Sanders showing no sign at all of backing out. Despite growing party pressure for him to at least dial down the rhetoric and not give Republicans more ammunition against the frontrunner, who is the likely nominee.”
Mitchell touted Hillary Clinton “looking to lock up the nomination, and calling on Sanders to help unify the party.”
After noting that the Sanders campaign was “arguing it will fight until the convention,” Mitchell dispelled the notion:
But according to an NBC News analysis, Sanders faces a near impossible task. Clinton must win just 29% of the remaining delegates, while Sanders must win 71%. In fact, Clinton, now with 1,885 total delegates, is on pace to reach the 2,383 magic number needed to win the nomination by June 7th. And with the upcoming delegate-rich states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Indiana, she could reach that mark sooner, by May 17th.
Mitchell also used the report to promoted Clinton’s latest gun control push: “Clinton, increasingly confident, but still taking on Sanders on guns....Today, Clinton heads to Connecticut to meet family members of victims of gun violence, as her campaign releases this new ad, featuring an emotional endorsement from the daughter of the school principal killed at Sandy Hook.”
Here is a full transcript of the April 21 segment:
7:05 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Let’s turn to the Democratic side. Bernie Sanders is digging in his heels despite speculation over whether it is time for him to bow out of the race. So what's his strategy? NBC’s Andrea Mitchell has more on that. Andrea, good morning.
ANDREA MITCHELL: That's what all Democrats are talking about, Matt. Good morning. Hillary Clinton with a prohibitive lead in delegates, but Bernie Sanders showing no sign at all of backing out. Despite growing party pressure for him to at least dial down the rhetoric and not give Republicans more ammunition against the frontrunner, who is the likely nominee.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: What’s Sanders’ Next Move?; Clinton Looks to Lock Up Democratic Nomination]
Hillary Clinton in Philadelphia, looking to lock up the nomination, and calling on Sanders to help unify the party.
HILLARY CLINTON: Here I am, in Pennsylvania, because I really want to work as hard as we can together for the next week to get a good result on April 26th!
MITCHELL: The Vermont senator took Wednesday off after New York's tough loss, hoping for big wins in Oregon and Indiana. His campaign arguing it will fight until the convention.
TAD DEVINE: We believe we can get there. That Bernie Sanders can win more pledged delegates by the time all the voting is done.
MITCHELL: But according to an NBC News analysis, Sanders faces a near impossible task. Clinton must win just 29% of the remaining delegates, while Sanders must win 71%. In fact, Clinton, now with 1,885 total delegates, is on pace to reach the 2,383 magic number needed to win the nomination by June 7th. And with the upcoming delegate-rich states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Indiana, she could reach that mark sooner, by May 17th.
Clinton, increasingly confident, but still taking on Sanders on guns, a topic that's led to sharp exchanges.
BERNIE SANDERS: Why did she put out that statement?!
CLINTON: I put it out to –
SANDERS: A statement – excuse me. I think I'm responding.
CLINTON: Well, you asked the question.
MITCHELL: Today, Clinton heads to Connecticut to meet family members of victims of gun violence, as her campaign releases this new ad, featuring an emotional endorsement from the daughter of the school principal killed at Sandy Hook.
HILLARY FOR AMERICA AD: No one is fighting harder to reform our gun laws than Hillary. She reminds me of my mother.
MITCHELL: And in March, Sanders raised $20 million more than Clinton. Those numbers have just been released. That's an incredible amount. Just one more reason why the Sanders team says that it is in it until the convention, if only to continue to force Clinton to adopt policies closer to Bernie Sanders. Savannah, Matt?
LAUER: Alright, Andrea Mitchell. Andrea, thank you.
