I suppose Obama letting it be known to the DNC and the Democratic State Party leaders that he wanted Hillary as their nominee in 2016 is normal politics. It was done quietly. It also kept a good many candidates from declaring their intentions to run for the presidency. I suppose it is normal politics when a sitting president lets everyone know who he wants to be the party nominee. Normal politics, in a way. A fix, that could fall into that category as most leaders will try to please the sitting president. No, it wasn't ballot stuffing. But it was at a minimum putting the strong arm on the party's leadership and the DNC.
It was beginning to look like more a coronation than a primary. Hence letting an independent who remained an independent to enter the fray without switching party labels. Webb and O'Malley weren't going to attract any voters. I don't think anyone realized Sanders would give such a good showing, an energetic one, a real attempt to win. Letting him run was just for show, so no one could say Hillary had been crowned.
So having a sitting president letting those in charge know he wants Hillary isn't really a fix. But his subordinates, the party leaders under Obama will try to please him. If you know your boss wants A, most will try to please him and give him A. Not all, but most. I think this really shows in the super delegates, Out of 712 super delegates, Sanders received 48 to Hillary's 664. Party loyalty, perhaps. But it probably had more to do with knowing Obama wanted Hillary, not Sanders. So let's please the boss.
Perhaps this doesn't make the legal definition of a fix, but it the next best thing.
