Sanders supporters want to dump Biden over Reade.

Biden sexual assault claim divides Democrats as Republicans pounce

While high-profile Democrats voice support for the presumptive presidential nominee, some progressives call for a closer look at Tara Reade’s allegations

What?

Some progressives?

The allegations of sexual misconduct by Tara Reade against the former vice-president Joe Biden have caused new fault lines within the Democratic party, especially between its left wing and the establishment.

. . . .

Peter Daou, a Democratic strategist who has argued that the “Democratic establishment” has moved to undercut Reade’s allegations, said three basic factions had emerged.

“You have Biden’s opponents on the Republican side and they’re going to seize on this,” Daou said, adding that there was also “the left – progressives and leftists” who want to see Reade’s allegations taken more seriously, and then the Democratic party establishment figures who are trying to undermine Reade. 

The latter group, Daou said, is “just absolutely wedded to Biden right now, will not let go, so they’ll defend him at all costs – even if that means completely destroying the #MeToo movement”.

Does Daou, a Bernie fan this cycle,  mean to suggest it isn't too late to switch to his guy?

Is there a pattern here?

Similar questions are being asked by progressives and some more moderate Democratic party leaders. 

David Sirota, a former speechwriter and senior strategist for Bernie Sanders, has argued that Democrats have been too eager to discount Reade’s allegations.

Some are quite frank they want Biden out.

And they look to me like people who never really wanted him in.

Rebecca Parson, a liberal Democrat challenging the Washington state congressman Derek Kilmer, said in an interview on Friday that Biden should step down over Reade’s allegations. 

Parson said she believes Reade and thinks the charges create too much of a vulnerability for Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

. . . .

Parson added: “I think that Biden should withdraw and any one or more of the candidates who aren’t running should restart their campaign because the Democratic primary isn’t over yet.”

. . . .

A Politico/Morning Consult poll found that over a third of Democratic voters surveyed say the party should switch out Biden as their presumptive nominee because of the allegations.

Is that by any chance the third that were all in for Bernie?

Any guesses who they think should be the nominee, instead?

Bernie, himself, is still on board with Biden.

So far, he seems to really mean it that the top priority is to get Trump out of the White House.

Even if his own supporters don't, or are truly delusional about what that requires.