Sanders Strategy: What's going on?

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders looked like a second, maybe third tier candidate for the Democratic Nomination up until about a month ago when he shocked the world with his astounding performance in the Iowa Caucus, ultimately tying Pete Buttigieg. He would go on to win New Hampshire, and then Nevada by progressively greater margins. Though he has 45 of the 100 declared Delegates so far (a strong plurality, with Buttigieg lagging behind with almost half that) the possibility remains that the party may enter it's convention without a candidate with a majority of pledged delegates.

Sanders speaking at SC debate with opponent Warren

This has been made a more plausible scenario as polls have come out suggesting tomorrows primary in South Carolina will result in a strong and solid win for former Vice President Joe Biden, positioning him to be the type of winner Sanders was in Nevada. A 20 point lead. Sanders is especially cognisant that he may be in for a long fight and a contested nomination. Especially one with no clear Delegate winner. So we got a tweet from him: "I've got news for the Republican establishment. I've got news for the Democratic establishment. They can't stop us."

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“I've got news for the Republican establishment. I've got news for the Democratic establishment. They can't stop us.” - Sen. Sanders

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On the surface, this is a way to inspire his movement and project strength. People like to be on the winning side, and presenting his campaign as unstoppable, particularly by the dreaded establishment, is extremely inspiring and a good call to arms on his part. But is that all, or is there something more than surface deep? Well, his other statements around that same time tell a much deeper story. "We’ve got the momentum. The political establishment and billionaire class know it. If our movement stands together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish." he said. On Feb. 17, he repeated that sentiment: "Our movement will defeat Trump because [we have] a multiracial, multicultural, multigenerational movement."

Sanders "Movement" is Strong

Alone, each of these means very little, but Sanders is the only candidate who uses the phrasing "Our movement." so often. Not "our campaign". Not "our primary bid". Our movement. Our movement, that can't be stopped. By anyone. Period. On top of it all, he is an Independent and has run as one against both the GOP and Democrats for his seat in Vermont. Sanders is playing a game here, one that holds tremendous sway over this election. He's teasing an independent run.

Yes, Sander's has made vague, unofficial promises not to, and get behind the eventual nominee, but keeping the possibility up in the air is enough to fearmonger the DNC.

If the Democratic Party reaches the convention without a delegate majority, it is more than likely to nominate an electable and more centrist nominee such as Biden, or Klobuchar. But it might look like too much of a risk to try to call Bernie's Bluff on this one. Because if they try, and are wrong, the election goes to President Trump. Bernie is playing to win, and this, in my opinion, is central to him hedging for a worst case Convention.