The Republicans did everything they could to make sure Bernie won the nomination. They held back criticism and even helped fund some of his efforts, not because the facts showed that he would be a stronger candidate. Beating him would have been a walk in the park. He has never been tested on the big stage. His comments about women fantasizing about being gang raped and his self avowed status as a Socilist would have been run up his backside. He lost the nomination by over 400-non super delegates. All the candidates he backed lost in the last primary and he may lose in 2018.