Awkward: Dems dance around the word 'quit' on Sanders

WASHINGTON (AP) — What to do when one presidential candidate clinches her party's presidential nod but her effectively vanquished rival refuses to leave the race?

[...] avoid saying the words "quit" or "exit" and "Bernie Sanders" in the same discussion, according to interviews with Democrats the day after Hillary Clinton claimed her place in history.

"Unify," ''come (or pull) together," ''do the right thing" and even "it" seemed to be the euphemisms of choice for Democrats pressed Wednesday to say what they want Sanders to do now.

For many, the recalcitrance reflects genuine affection for the gruff, 25-year congressional veteran who says he's a democratic socialist and has battled Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination for a solid year.

For Democrats broadly, it's about not ticking him off and alienating the 45 percent of Democratic delegates pledged to vote for him or the legions of supporters who have flocked to his campaign in the primaries.

Clinton will need them in her general election fight against Republican Donald Trump.

Leading Democrats that Sanders accuses of rigging the nomination process do not want to "feel the Bern" of division more than they are feeling it now.

Whatever choice he makes, I got a profound love for Brother Sanders. —

[...] I think I'm better off just keeping quiet about it. —

Associated Press writers Erica Werner and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.