As Bernie continues with his quixotic campaign, the only important remaining questions revolve around his ultimate objectives. Here is my best guess:
1. Influence the platform. In the final analysis, platforms don’t mean that much; if you don’t believe me, watch and see how much deference Trump pays to the GOP platform this fall. I think the Clinton and Sanders camps can probably agree on a formula that essentially says that the Clinton incremental approach is appropriate for the short term, but Bernie’s vision is the long term goal.
2. Bernie for VP? This makes more sense that you would think at first glance. Bernie has a large constituency and a vision that could help the Clinton campaign, and I don’t doubt that he would be a powerful voice against Trump. He is also qualified to be President, if necessary. On the other hand, I think he has drawn too much blood during the campaign to merit serious consideration; everything he said about Clinton and Wall Street, for example, would be thrown back at both of them by Trump and his partisans. His age would also be an issue, and Clinton doesn’t need his help to carry Vermont. On balance, I don’t see it happening.
3. Bernie Prime Time. I suspect Clinton will agree to give him a prominent speaking role at the convention as long as he limits himself to providing his vision and attacking Trump.
4. Where does he go after Philly? It has to have occurred to him that the best chance for his “revolution” would be a Trump victory, followed by a failed presidency. I don’t think he is cynical enough to give into that temptation.
Personally, I would like to see him try to mobilize his supporters into a force at the state and local levels, and I would also suggest that he take his message to red states and see if he can make any headway with Trump voters. After all, the ultimate challenge he faces with his program is not with the rest of the Democratic party; it is with Republicans and Independents who despise the idea of “socialism.”