I feel that much of Bernie's widely distributed support base from several years ago has been grabbed by many younger and more diverse candidates. This leaves only his most hardcore supporters of whom I think there is an unsavory element that is both ardently Bernie and while also incredibly defensive of his far less assured path to success and much stronger competition.
I posted about her on 2016 but my wife and I have a close friend who went full Bernie Brobot during the primary to the point we couldn't talk politics with her after the primary selection.
If it wasn't for her and her extended network - I'd probably think that Bernie Bros were the Russian Twitter bots that used to (and still do to some extent)reply instantly to Trump's tweets en masse.
But she and a few other real folk were deep in the tank so our Facebook exposure to the stories and conspiracy nonsense they were passing around was deep and revealing.
Funnily enough my wife and I were both leaning Bernie right up until he went dnc conspiracy and seemed to forget that he actually wasn't a party member... Hillary was always an establishment competent choice who knew the ropes - the only excitement I could muster for her was her gender, experience and intelligence.
Watching our friend spend months unknowingly working for the GOP and the GRU was shocking. Couldn't tell her ANYTHING - primary votes were altered! Hillary made a deal with the Rothschilds! She murdered her rivals! All of it.
At the time it was just embarrassing - and until we saw the razor thin margins after the general - it wasn't a big deal outside of concern for her environment. That week it became apparent that everything counted - Green Party - bots - Comey - Hillary sneezing - everything made a difference.
So I will hear out legitimate Bernie supporters on policy and hope for more evolution from Bernie himself - and if he releases his taxes and keeps a lid on his potboiler elements then I can get behind him again should he somehow manage to be or get on a unified dnc ticket -- but whenever I hear anyone defend what went on in that community as irrelevant (and is unquestionably happening again) - I first point to the historically close margins - then to AL Gore and Florida and then if they can't concede at least the arithmetic then I can't really assume clear eyed intent.
My prediction is that it's an energy or paste that can't be put back in the bottle or tube - but I don't think it's hopeless. Combative lack of self reflection or binary attacks on every other candidate is a bad look for a movement that should be pragmatic and serious about this country first, and party and candidate have to be secondary considerations after that.
I want to see hardcore Bernie supporters speak rationally and positively about other candidate's chances or combinations. Maybe someone who disagrees with my position and perspective can point me to where that's happening. I'm happy to see that - if it's happening. Would be a big shift and a positive one.