Bernie not conceding the nomination after meeting with Hillary
EndFragment
WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders called Tuesday for a “fundamental transformation” of the Democratic Party that would include new leadership at the Democratic National Committee, electoral reform and a progressive agenda that makes it "crystal clear" Democrats stand with working people and the poor.
The Vermont senator, speaking outside his Washington campaign headquarters, said his presidential campaign has been about “transforming America” and he plans to take that fight to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.
Sanders also called for open primaries -- in which independents could vote for Democratic candidates -- and for doing away with superdelegates, the party officials and leaders who are free to vote for the candidate of their choice at the convention. And he argued for same-day voter registration.
"We need a party which is prepared to stand up for the disappearing middle class, for the 47 million people in this country who are living in poverty, and take on the greed of the powerful special interests that are doing so much harm to this country, who have so much power over the political and economic life of our country," he said.
Sanders still has not conceded the nomination race, even though presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has claimed victory after securing the required 2,383 delegates.
Clinton and Sanders met late Tuesday at the Capital Hilton in Washington for about 90 minutes, as they had agreed to do after the California primary. A Clinton campaign official said the two discussed unifying the party while Sanders’ spokesman Michael Briggs said they talked about how best to bring more people into the political process. They otherwise gave similar descriptions of the meeting, saying it was a positive discussion that focused on “the dangerous threat” Donald Trump poses. Both camps said they discussed raising the minimum wage, campaign finance reform and affordable college, while Briggs included universal health care. They also said they agreed to continue working on developing the Democratic Party platform.
EndFragment