Thought

Maybe Hillary Clinton's goal in all the negative is to drive down turnout from first time voters, irregular voters, and independent/party switchers?

If only the everytime Democratic primary voters show up (skewing elderly and women,) she does relatively better in percentage terms.

Of course, reducing turnout would also likely reduce the amount of popular vote gain she carries forward for her later argument.

But, she does have to win Pa by X margin to even be allowed to continue, so, maybe that's what this is all about.

(Of course, negativity also plays against Clinton in the broader sense as it increases the pressure on her to get out. How different would it be if she'd left after Texas/Ohio?)