I expect that our presumptive nominee, Joe Biden, will wisely build bridges to Sanders voters

[Tom Rinaldo]

I expect that the runner up for the nomination, Bernie Sanders, will try to validate all of the enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to a cause that his core base of supporters has evidenced for years, as not having been in vain. It is essential that he do so.

None of us who recognize how high the stakes are for our nation this November, can afford for even a fraction of the third of the Democratic electorate that stood strongly for Bernie Sanders to leave this primary process feeling crushed and disillusioned. Many of our youngest voters passionately believed in Bernie, and for a good many of those this was their first time really engaging in the electoral process.

Bernie has to find a way of acknowledging and celebrating all of that before he can begin the essential work of effectively converting as many of his supporters as possible into fervent campaigners for Joe Biden. It most likely can't be done in a single day. Joe Biden won. I expect he will exhibit the grace that is so much a part of him as he works to unify our Party. I hope those here who feel relieved to see Sanders defeated are capable of the same.