Why do people think Sanders is unelectable even though he beats Trump and Cruz by bigger margins

[Bestuserever]

than Clinton does?

[revbones]

1. Because it's her turn

Or Bernie and his supporters are *insert word similar to racistssexistsetc...*

[Bestuserever]

4. That's what all the Hil lovers think

[Hoyt]

2. Probably because those kind of polls don't mean much right now.

[Garrett78]

26. If hypothetical match-up polls were instructive, Dukakis would have become POTUS.

It's funny that some of the same folks who talk about polls and predictions being worthless have quite the strong attachment to hypothetical match-up polls that are historically inaccurate and, quite frankly, meaningless. Until the nominees are determined and the 2 are focused on campaigning against one another (with the backing of their party and PACs and whatnot), match-up polling is worthless.

[bigwillq]

3. Polls are often wrong

And those polls will change many, many times once the nominees are decided.

[ibegurpard]

5. Because a lot of money and effort has been spent

On propaganda to convince them so.

[Buzz Clik]

6. Because compared to Dole, McCain, Romney, Bush ... he'd be unelectable. With this cast of clowns?

He's electable.

[gcomeau]

7. Stockholm syndrome.

They're so traumatized by GOP capture of the political narrative calling the nation right leaning for several decades that now even when the polls are right in front of them they can't believe a real liberal can win. Their captors are right. We need to play nice with them and run someone just a little less right and call that a "moderate" then consider it a win.

[gwheezie]

8. I think it will be hard for either of them

But I'm not going to insist Bernie can't win a GE. There are negatives for either Hillary or Bernie that the GOP will attack them with.

[PonyUp]

9. It's the 1% that's afraid they will lose one nickel if Sanders is elected, so they

own/control the media, pay people to shill for hillary, and donate big money to her campaign.

[ThePhilosopher04]

10. It's called spinning a narrative

Say it loud enough and often enough and people start to believe it. Typical right wing tactics.

[LWolf]

11. Because it is to their benefit to spin it that way, if

they can shut down some voters for Bernie.

It doesn't have to be true. It just has to work.

A tried and true Clinton campaign strategy.

[NurseJackie]

12. Because the GOP attack machine doesn't see him as a viable threat.

Keep in mind that Hillary's poll numbers INCLUDE the effects of many years of attacks in the past, and the current ongoing attacks ... she's swimming in the deep end WITH the sharks. Bernie's still in the relatively safe waters of the kiddie pool.

He'd only be considered a "threat" if he were actually the nominee, and at that point their attentions would turn and he'd be at their ruthless mercy.

That's why.

[longship]

13. Cenk Uygur posted about this earlier this week.

Here he is in rather high dudgeon on the matter:

[Jenny_92808]

15. Cenk "it is a war on math"

I couldn't agree with you more, Cenk!

[MisterP]

14. machine politics' endgoal is to train and discipline the electorate

don't look things out for yourselves, don't spoil what we have, we're looking out for you

vote for me, not for yourselves, and DEFINITELY don't vote for someone not on your street/city/state

[noamnety]

16. They don't.

If they really believed he was unelectable, they wouldn't be spending this much effort trying to make sure he isn't elected.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. False advertising in a campaign slogans are cheaper than glossy commercials with false advertising.

[braddy]

18. I've wondered this, it is the same for month after month

[dcbuckeye]

19. because the attacks haven't begun yet

Wait until the GOP attack machine unleashes their negative attacks on Bernie, calling him a communist, draft dodger, etc... Once that begins, the election will be over and Trump will be president. I've seen it before, Kerry, Dukakis.

[Gwhittey]

20. Wait till attacks

On Hillary are being made from inside a Federal Court room where she is defending herself.

[Bestuserever]

22. But were those candidates ever winning in the 1st place

Kerry had a good chance to win but ran a terrible and cowardly campaign. All he had to do to combat the swift-boat attacks was mention Bush's AWOL that he was never arrested for because of his powerful daddy.

[Maedhros]

21. They don't THINK that, they have been TOLD that.

And they believe what they are told, despite evidence to the contrary.

Hero worship is a hell of a drug.

[grossproffit]

24. Oh, there's a lot of hero worship here alright.

[grossproffit]

23. I know many who won't vote for him.

My husband won't but it's still early. I can be pretty persuasive and he's an awful liar.

[kcr]

25. It's hard for some people to stop thinking old school

The tired old saw that this country is too conservative and and would never elect a liberal is still entrenched. But Bernie is showing that progressive ideas can win in this country. People are coming around.