Bernie Sanders’s limited appeal — even to Democrats

Clinton's negatives will be 99% at the end of a two year campaign.

Sanders is creepy - they're just something about him that's off.

This is what I think people aren't getting. He appeals strongly but narrowly. Outside of Iowa and the North East, he's pretty much a non-starter.

He says a lot of great things, and has a lot of great ideas... and I'm glad he's airing them and moving the conversation leftward and attacking Republicans and giving Hillary cover to move to the left as well.

Once again a useless attempt by the MSM to tell us what it thinks about what we think. We should vote for the best candidate and to hell with the popularity numbers.

I like Bernie well enough, but I simply do not believe in a thousand years he could win more than 6 states to whichever heinous Republican wins the GOP nomination. I am not suicidal. I also believe that he would influence few within his own party if elected. It's a pipe dream to some, but I firmly believe Hillary Clinton can win handily and reshape The Supreme Court as well as continue the successes of the Obama Administration. I will not support Bernie Sanders financially, because I do not want to waste my money.

Interesting!

He's left-wing, isn't he? Most Democrats seem to be center-right. Pro military, pro big business etc. It's a shame but anyone who is genuinely left-wing is probably only going to have a limited appeal.

Most Democrats seem to be center-right? Uh, no, R7. Just... no.

That's ridiculous, R5 and R7. If we know anything, we know the right has a MOUNTAIN of data to throw at Clinton and that she's not proved a great campaign manager nor adequately disciplined in her presentation. She will make gaffes and they will have people thinking she east barbequed Christian babies for breakfast by Nov. '16. We'd be better off with almost anyone else.

Both Bernie and Trump are best known for their actual record in the Northeastern region. A lot of the people for and against them in other parts of the country are going by name recognition, poll numbers and sound bites alone. A few months down the road, when both are better known nationwide for their actual history and positions, that may change.

Hillary's been a national figure for a lot longer than Bernie. Like her or hate her, most people have a feel for her views. Most of Trump's actions involve real estate investments, not politics. There are plenty of Republicans that judge fitness for the Presidency on wealth alone, but he's not getting any crossover votes that way. There are a lot of issues yet to be discussed in depth by him, and people care about more than immigration and lower taxes for the wealthy.

Can't imagine Bernie coming out well in a discussion of his age. What if he dies or is incapacitated in office? Would he resign if he had a stroke, cancer or other ailment, or fight to hold the office even if incapacitated? What if he became too ill to hold the office after being named nominee, or elected but not yet in office? What would he look for in a running mate? What would Putin or our other adversaries do if he were known to be ill? FDR made a bad deal with Stalin at Yalta due to poor health and exhaustion.

I think he's too old.

OP is another of those Clinton interns

[quote] We should vote for the best candidate and to hell with the popularity numbers.

First of all, it's polices. Second, the best candidate = someone who can win a general election. Thanks for playing.

[quote]He's left-wing, isn't he? Most Democrats seem to be center-right. Pro military, pro big business etc. It's a shame but anyone who is genuinely left-wing is probably only going to have a limited appeal.

No, honey. There's left-wing, and FAR left-wing. America doesn't do far left-wing, which is what Bernie Sanders is.

[quote]Clinton's negatives will be 99% at the end of a two year campaign.

Uh, no.

That's wrong. People don't have a feel for her views, because they change according what she thinks is a winner. My personal understanding, from reading her biography, is that she is much more conservative than Webb or O'Malley - conservative enough to run as a republican, frankly, although nothing like the nutjobs in their current field.

Bernie Sanders would also be dealing with a full Republican Congress. His fangurls are absolutely nuts.

[quote]People don't have a feel for her views

Yes they do. They also know that she doesn't take any shit.

[quote]My personal understanding, from reading her biography

lmao!!!

R17, you only know her "liberalism" from when she represented New York. She has been anything but liberal as Secretary of State, and certainly as First Lady and during her Arkansas period, she was as far from progressive as Lieberman.

So what exactly is "far left wing" about Bernie? What positions does he have the majority of Americans don't have?

*crickets*

Bernie is considered left-wing because America has moved to the right over the past half century.

Back in the 1930's & 1940's, his views would have been very much in line with those of FDR.

Truman & Eisenhower would also be considered left-wing today.

2016

Bernie must be aware that his age will be a factor.

McCain was criticized for his age, and Bernie is older than McCain was when he ran for President in 2008.

I really have a hard time trusting someone of his religious background to run the country. They are responsible for so much suffering not only in the U.S., but around the world. Most of the conflict in the Middle East is due to people from his religion. This religion's state is the main reason US soil was attacked by Al Quaeda on 9/11.

You're kind of sad R23.

I'm not sure what national poll results mean anyways. Considering two factors: 1) Look at a map, the last two presidential elections can hardly be considered national mandates, 2) Polling is becoming less and less accurate - and more and more expensive to get anything close to a sound sample.

His positions on guns are not supported by a majority of Americans.

How am I sad, R24 ? The truth hurts, I guess. Many people share my views.

R26 - the fact many people agree with you (if indeed that is true) doesn't mean a damn in the context of a rational logical argument. You're sad because you have let a prejudice distort your reasoning.

R25 - be very careful when making claims about what most people think about gun control in this country. First, like it or not it is a constitutional issue in other words one that is not decided by what most people think. Gun control support tends to ebb and flow with current events.

Sanders simply cannot with a national election. Do you really want Jeb!, Walker or Cruz nominating our next Supreme Court justices? And enjoying play time with a rethuglican Congress. That would be a horror show.

R28 - OK go through the states Obama won in 2012 and tell us which ones and why Oba.ma took the state but Sanders couldn't.

I fear the Republicans are going to support Bernie heavily in order to divide the party and oust Hillary.

R23, you are pitiful. It is such a shame that this country is anti-Semitic. I will say this made me think about how things will get VERY interesting if Bernie proves to be formidable and Hillary throws anti-semitic dogwhistles his way.

[quote]So what exactly is "far left wing" about Bernie?

He's a Socialist. Read a book.

[quote]It is such a shame that this country is anti-Semitic.

The polls show that his being Jewish is no problem with both Republican and Democratic voters, hon. The Socialism and Atheism is a killer.

[quote]OK go through the states Obama won in 2012 and tell us which ones and why Oba.ma took the state but Sanders couldn't.

75 years old, Socialist, Atheist, Jewish

Seriously? You still can't wrap your head around this?

Nate Silver crunched the numbers -- Bernie cannot win. Silver has predicted the last two elections to a t. If Nate says he can't, he can't.

Do you honestly think that Sanders has any chance of taking a swing state???

S O C I A L I S T

r2 His mannerisms are erratic. He seems a bit crazy. He also sounds very working class. But he has the best policies of any mainstream politician. I will vote for him. If not him, O'malley. I can't vote for Clinton. She is a right wing democrat.

The Clintons were always closet Republican. There is a reason they mesh well with H.W. more than principled progressives like Carter and Obama.

Clinton has name recognition. Unfortunately that matters more than actual policies. She has been known for over 20 years. When Bernie gets more coverage as the campaign goes on, I am sure it will change. Plus although Clinton is right wing and corrupt, on paper she has a more impressive resume. She was first lady, secretary of state, and a US senator. Bernie was a mayor of a very small Vermont town and a US senator(of a small state). As senator, he never was as known as say Teddy Kennedy, Jon Kerry, or representative Barney Frank and such.

Clinton Sanders 2016?

Hillary Clinton was ranked the 11th MOST LIBERAL Senator from 2000-2008. save the crypto-Conservative backwash. As secretary of State one does not create policy, one carries out the policies of the President. You are unable to do anything but regurgitate internet memes, right?

[quote]The polls show that his being Jewish is no problem with both Republican and Democratic voters, hon.

A public poll 19 months before an election is hardly an accurate gauge of voter views. Especially when the candidate is seen as a simply side show to the main event. Any inkling that Sanders may indeed become a viable candidate will be met by a ground swell of America's entrenched anti-Jewish bigotry and hatred. R23 is the rule, not the exception.

r42 What are these liberal policies that Clinton supports?? Does she support a public option or a $15 minimum wage. Does she support getting rid of the hyde amendment?? Does she want to get rid of public money going to charter schools. She is only the most liberal because the democrats have moved to the right in the past 20-30 years.

[quote]No, honey. There's left-wing, and FAR left-wing. America doesn't do far left-wing, which is what Bernie Sanders is.

To anyone outside the USA, from countries who have proper socialized healthcare and are pro-union - you know, basic left-wing traditions - Bernie Sanders's policies are far from being "far left". The fact that you and many Americans seem to think he's so far to the left speaks volumes about how far to the right political debate in the US has shifted.

[quote] Nate Silver crunched the numbers -- Bernie cannot win. Silver has predicted the last two elections to a t. If Nate says he can't, he can't.

R35 I think you are referring to Silver's analysis of whether or not Sanders could win the Democratic nomination not the general election.

If you read his analysis you would know his conclusion is based upon an analysis of Sanders current support within the party - that being white liberals. A slim majority of Democrats still identify as moderate. Sanders has very little support from African-Americans and Hispanics. Those two groups support Clinton. That's why right now TODAY Silver says Sanders can't win the nomination.

Silver also acknowledges the number of Democrats who identify as liberal is increasing, at a rapid pace.

Two things I think should be considered. 1) We see this here on DL all the time - support the Democratic to protect the Supreme Court from a Republican President's nominees. That motivation is valid whether Sanders or Clinton is the nominee. 2) Sanders is starting to go after Clinton on Glass-Steagall a subject Clinton would like to avoid - lots of uncomfortable questions about her corporate donors. Quite possibly a subject that will cause Bill Clinton to start talking.

R23, the Jews are not responsible for the CIA & the Pentagon or the Military-Industrial Complex.

I think Bernie will be gone by the fall nice try dude time to retire

A lot of these Bernie Sander's fans seem like bubbleheads. They refuse to face any kind of reality no matter how often you point it out. Sanders is too old, too left and too socialist to win. The only thing he would do would be to guarantee a Bush/Wallace white house.

[quote] Both Bernie and Trump are best known for their actual record in the Northeastern region.

Wait. Trump has a record - actual or otherwise? Do you mean criminal record? Do you mean record for bankruptcies?

I hope Trump stays in the race as long as possible. All he is doing is making the Republicans look bad. The absurdity of his antics are so beyond reason that the only practical explanation I can conjure is that he is a saboteur paid by the Democratic party.

No, R51, he's just nuts. Trump has a big ego. He's an egomaniac. There's no big scheme behind it.

r2 he is creepy. His fantasies about how women fantasize being raped by multiple men; and blamed cervical cancer on lack of orgasm. He's a kook.

What, R53? When did Sanders say that?

r54 google is your friend.

R54 - google is your friend. A quick search will put the claims into their 45 years ago context. Which surprise surprise is not nearly as interesting as the current spin.

Hillary Clinton has an inoffensive middle class gay couple in her campaign video!

Best. President. Ever!

FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!

So, she's damned if she does, huh r57? You are obviously jejune, and new to politics. Keep the circular firing squad ready! You will find a reason next year not to vote at all, trust me.

I don't get so-called Republicans who are supporting Bernie. Either they're supporting him in the same way Democrats are "supporting" Donald Trump ( as a form of sabotage ), or they have no business having ever voted Republican ever before. Bernie is the polar opposite of Republican. If he appeals to people who consider themselves Republicans, then those so-called Republicans are just idiots for ever having voted Republican for any reason, ever.

Hillary leads Bernie Sanders by 52 points. Game over Bernie so go retire dude.

R50, I meant New Yorkers are used to reading about Trump and his real estate and his many blonde Barbie doll wives and his entitled kids and his Miss USA contest and his many bankruptcies.

A lot of people in other parts of the country don't pay much attention to him, they just know he owns a bunch of real estate and is rich and has a weird hairdo. There's a lot of stuff about him most people don't really care about. He's sort of a brand name to them and not really well defined.

Socialist, atheist, Je wish....same thing.

R42 you realize being the 11th most liberal senator is like being the 11th most tolerant member of the Gestapo hit squad?

She's not a leftie and never will be.

(rolling eyes at R63)

I'm amazed at the idiots who think a 'leftie' has any chance of winning an election in this country.

If you can't get elected, what does it matter what you're politics are? You'll never have any effect at all because you'll never have the power to do anything.

R65, Nothing is impossible in America. Do not underestimate Bernie. If a Muslim name did not scare the electorate, neither will the word socialism. Bernie is becoming the ideological favorite and is gradually gaining momentum and a passionate following among young voters because of his platform of change and channeling of mainstream frustration. Sound familiar? While Bernie is focusing on gaining support in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire, Hillary is still trying to figure out what her core values and platform will be because she does not know and because personal ambition is the only thing that motivates her. This is 2007 all over again.

Sanders isn't winning.

ENOUGH.

Stop it. Hillary lost before and she can lose again. Unless she changes her current strategy, Bernie can end up toppling her in the primaries. It surprises me that she has not changed her usual modus operandi, which is raise as much money and get as many corporate donations as possible while neglecting the people. She can barely even face the public or answer questions because she does not know what stance to take regarding tough political issues. She is,once again, letting another candidate use populism while she depends on her popularity.

I wish there was another choice. Both Hillary and Bernie are too old. Anybody else?

I think you better check your polls again OP

Hillary Clinton "neglects people"? Where are you getting this crap? I'm from NY State and Senator Clinton served the people very well, and was seen as a hard working liberal who represented the constituency very well. I have no idea what these accusations of being a right-wing sort of DINO are coming from. She's not as lefty as Sanders, because NOBODY IS, yet she is as lefty as one can be and STILL BE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

Back when Sanders was purple, he got a lot of requests for votes and other assistance from Rethugs. He kept all their notes and you'll see them appear in the coming months.

Apparently he is stingy with the donations.

Good Lord, this thread did NOT age well.....

Apologies if someone has already mentioned this, but why do people keep using the phrase "begs the question" incorrectly? This example in OP's story is the silliest I've seen yet. Not too bright of you, Post "journalist."

^And I hope it's the last time I see it, considering this article is four years old.

Why the fuck was this bumped???!

Whew. What a relief.

Luckily I checked the date of this original post.

From July of 2015.

I was frightened that the Hillbots were reappearing.