Plurality rule... divide and conquer.
From Bernie’s point of view, the Revolution was almost in his grasp. A lifetime of striving, he could almost taste the nomination.
He might still get it... but he’s going to need a majority on the first ballot to pull it off.
Even without the superdelegate chicanery, I believe that parties nominated on majorities, which is why a plurality going into the convention meant a back-room brokered convention and a lot of deals. It would be pretty radical to change the rules to award the nomination to whomever has a non-majority lead when the convention starts. Historically so.
For Bernie to complain now about the superdelegates, after he made his deal, is just more political grasping. He agreed to the rules of the game.
He’s less popular than when he ran against Hillary