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Who’s backing Biden and Bernie?
Their endorsements reflect a contest between establishment and insurgency, institutional politics and grassroots organizing
The time for picking a side is running out. A lot of erstwhile fence-sitters announced their endorsements in the last week before the Iowa Caucus, and most are lining up behind one of the two frontrunners: former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
The two candidates—an establishment centrist and a left insurgent—represent divergent visions. A closer look at the make-up of respective coalitions can reveal a lot about them, their ideologies, their chances of winning, and who stands to gain or lose by putting them in office.
Politicians and officials
Biden’s endorsements show he has the imprimatur of the Democratic Party establishment, with a breathtaking number of elected officials at every level as well as various members of the Obama administration. Thus far, Biden has racked up nods from 20 Senators (five current, 15 former) as well as more than 40 House representatives and 400 state legislators.
A wide range of current and former higher-ups in the executive branch have voiced their support for Biden, such as former Homeland Security director…
