Senator Bernie Sanders is proud of his status as an Independent Senator

[Tom Rinaldo]

22. I know there are others who share your viewpoint on this, but I don't

We live in a nation where more people register as Independents than with either of the major parties, and we live in a nation where minor party candidates potentially pull votes away from major party candidates in general elections. I am among those who refuse to vote for Green Party candidates for that reason, except perhaps in a rare local race.

I was upset with the role that both Ralph Nader and Jill Stein played in hotly contested presidential elections which resulted in Republicans winning the White House. I appreciate it when a potential Independent candidate who strongly opposes the right wing in America pledges not to run in a general election against a Democratic candidate, but contests for the Democratic nomination instead, with the understanding that they will endorse whoever finally wins that nomination. If Democratic voters don't want that person as our nominee they can vote for a long time self professed Democrat instead. It is very difficult for a(technically prior) Independent to win a Democratic Party nomination running against seasoned and popular Democrats. But if they do, they do.

By running for the Democratic nomination an Independent sends a clear signal to other Independents about which of our major two parties other Independents should turn to for leadership whenever a General Election comes around. I think that is helpful to Democrats in a nation in which we remain a distinct minority.