Does Bernie Sanders still stand no chance?

[dutchgirl678]

I feel like the mainstream media still tries to ignore him for the most part. But I am from Oregon and have friends who are rooting for him and volunteering for his campaign and from that perspective he seems to be doing really well! It is still quite a while until we get to the primaries though, so I am interested to see where it goes. But I am in favor of his thinking and ideas and think he has an impressive track record. He has the people's best interest at heart and is not about making the rich even richer.

[chedifuen]

I actually think the media is inflating his campaign to have a story and make the primary appear competitive. He's 19 points behind Hillary in Iowa and CNN was acting like it was a freaking horse race. I'm in Portland too and while some of my friends are interested in Sanders, few are willing to risk voting for him in the primary.

[katfco]

I think if Donald Trump can become a frontrunner, anything is possible.

[penguingrrl]

I think he stands a chance in the primary by appealing to the very liberal base but is unlikely to stand even a small chance in the general. It's the same criticism I've had about many GOP candidates. Someone more moderate is often less appealing to the base but only someone fairly moderate will be able to win the general. He has no more chance than Santorum or Perry in the general.

[gpw]

I don't think the Clinton machine is at full throttle yet. I think once it is, it will be problematic for Sanders.

ALTHOUGH, stranger things have happened in politics. Clinton's timing needs to be right, her campaign can't wait too long.

[gpw]

Aug 16, 2015 18:25:05 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

Aug 16, 2015 18:19:57 GMT -5 gpw said:

I don't think the Clinton machine is at full throttle yet. I think once it is, it will be problematic for Sanders.

ALTHOUGH, stranger things have happened in politics. Clinton's timing needs to be right, her campaign can't wait too long.

Right. Nobody saw the man from Illinois swooping in and taking the whole thing last time.

I totally agree and should have added that because that is what I meant by saying she can't wait too long.  She didn't see that coming, thought she had all her people lined up, didn't expect their "defection."  I hope she learned from her mistake. 

[Deleted]

There's a lot of Bernie love on my timeline, but mostly from those who are into it at this stage in the game. I'd say most won't even pay attention until around this time next year and will throw their support behind Hillary or some 3rd party candidate if there's one they like.

[tres3]

there is a lot of bernie love on my FB timeline too.

[heyjude]

It's all Bernie all the time on my FB.

[oscarnerdjulief]

I think Bernie Sanders may do well at first in the primary, but as it eventually shifts to more mainstream states like Ohio and Florida, he will be dead in the water. His appeal is limited unless there's a big-time bandwagon effect.

There's a hatred of insiders at this point in the process that is helping people like Bernie, Trump, and Carly. It will probably tail off. ex: Herman Cain

What he has done and will do is get Hillary to make more substantive policy proposals. I feel that her college affordability plan came about in part because of pressure from the Bernie voters if not Bernie himself.

[Deleted]

I want him to win, although almost as happy if its Hilary. Having said that, I could see "President Obama" but I have a hard time seeing "President Bernie" lol

[downtoearth]

I am not a big Bern-head, but I also haven't called out those that are on FB. I'm guessing most of those of us liberals who like his ideals, but feel he's still old white guy who knows better bc he's establishment won't spite those who are diehard Bern-heads bc we need them in the General.

[jln]

I really like Bernie but I fear he'll lose if given the nomination. I'd rather Hillary get the nom because I think she has a better chance of winning and I'd rather her win than a Republican.

[saz]

I have a lot of Bernie fans, probably more than HRC fans, in my life. Most are talking about the Republicans though at this point, regardless of political beliefs.

What would happen if it was Bernie vs Trump?

[oscarnerdjulief]

I think if it were Bernie versus Trump, it'd be a hard race to call. It would obviously come down to who could win the key states of Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Honestly, I'd have to give the slight edge to Trump. I feel that a lot of Sanders' positions like universal health care and college tuition are obviously untenable, and working people would not like to pay for the expansion.

eta:  I know the line is that the rich would pay for the expansion in universal health care and college tuition, but it wouldn't work.  Look how it was a flop in Vermont, which has a very small population.  They had to scale back the health care plan in Vermont because there was a 2.59B shortfall with only worse to come. 

[downtoearth]

Aug 17, 2015 13:17:33 GMT -5 oscarnerdjulief said:

I think if it were Bernie versus Trump, it'd be a hard race to call. It would obviously come down to who could win the key states of Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Honestly, I'd have to give the slight edge to Trump. I feel that a lot of Sanders' positions like universal health care and college tuition are obviously untenable, and working people would not like to pay for the expansion.

eta:  I know the line is that the rich would pay for the expansion in universal health care and college tuition, but it wouldn't work.  Look how it was a flop in Vermont, which has a very small population.  They had to scale back the health care plan in Vermont because there was a 2.59B shortfall with only worse to come. 

This idea is just crazy to me. That our country would have a battle for leadership between The Donald, who is a caricature of Scrooge McDuck, and Bernie, who is a idealist Jewish (only mention this b/c I would be shocked if we could elect someone who wasn't Christian) socialist who is essentially color/class/gender blind b/c everyone will be "equal" under his presidency is wild!