Trump won the GOP nomination without ever really winning 50% or more in early contests, because the GOP field was so large and ideologically diverse (for them). By the time the contests got to point where it was a clear choice between Trump and a normal Republican, the choice was already made. (Some of that was GOP primary rules about delegates.)
The Democrats, I think, face a problem that's similar. Sanders has many appealing qualities, but he's been surprisingly unvetted for such a nationally prominent candidate. Democrats can't attack him for fear of upsetting his hard core fans. Republicans are gleeful about running against him, and I think there are reason why the should and reasons why they shouldn't.
As New Hampshire made clear last night, Sanders active support within the party seems capped at about 25%. He won 60% of the vote in NH in 2016, because it was basically him or Hillary. Seems like more than half of that vote was "anti-Hillary" rather than pro-Bernie. Sanders has benefitted from a fractured center-left field. At this point, Biden looks done. If so, he needs to drop out quickly to allow the center-left to solidify around a "not-Bernie." In a two person race, I don't think Sanders wins the nomination, probably not in a three person race (though it would depend on which three are left). With the departure of Yang and Bennett, the field is pretty well set with a top-4 and Bloomberg off in the wings. If Nevada forces Biden from the race, then we are really getting into the true competition.
Everything up to this point has just been preamble.
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