If Sanders runs as an independent, do you think he would win?

[TheProgressive]

I'm thinking, yes...

Your thoughts?

[Nonhlanhla]

1. No, I think then Trump would win. nt.

[Arkansas Granny]

13. I agree. Hopefully he won't do that.

[RKP5637]

166. It would likely split the D's and ensure a Trump win, which is, of course, why Trump

is saying that. I don't even remotely think Bernie would do that. He does not want to fracture the D party so much that Trump wins.

[rpannier]

86. Not sure I am in complete agreement

I think it would depend on whether or not the unhappy billionaire class of the other side ran a 4th candidate
As long as there isn't a 3rd candidate that would split votes with HRC then I don't think they will
But, if they see Sanders-Clinton-Trump they may go looking
I wouldn't rule out Bloomberg even though he said he wouldn't run back in February-March or someone else who fits their 'the rich rock the poor suck' narrative

[GoldenThunder]

141. Bernie running as an Independent in November...

...easily triples Ross Perot's 19 million vote total from 1992.

Assuming the same 125 million vote total from 2012 that would have Sanders winning 60 million votes with Clinton and Trump battling over the remaining 65 million and Bernie winning roughly 40 to 45 states. It's really a shame Bernie states that he wont run Indie. After what happened to his Facebook campaign sites. He really owes it to America to reconsider.

[LWolf]

184. Yes. But.

I don't think Sanders can win as an independent, and I don't think he has any plans to run as an independent.

I think Trump, or whatever R is on the ballot, will win anyway. I think the Rs will be out in force to defeat Clinton, the independent and crossover support Sanders brought to the table will be gone, and Clinton will lose.

[Nonhlanhla]

186. I find it ironic

that you have an image with the words "Please do not feed the fears" in your signature line, and yet you feed the fear that Trump will win.

Trump will only win if Bernie's supporters refuse to vote for Hillary.

The ball is in your hands.

[LWolf]

198. Nope.

I'm not afraid of Trump, win or lose.

[Nonhlanhla]

199. You should be. nt

[LWolf]

200. You're recognition of irony

seems to be a bit selective, lol.

[Dustlawyer]

205. The ball is in Hillary's hands. She must reach out to Bernie supporters to earn their votes.

Based on her response to Rachell's questioning the other night she feels that she doesn't have to do anything! Unlike myself and other long term Democrats, many Bernie supporters were not Democrats before and would not vote in the election otherwise. Obama named her as his SOS to get her voter's support. With interviews like the other night she will lose these voters. Don't blame Bernie supporters if many do not show up, it will be their candidates fault.

[LexVegas]

2. Theres not enough white vote to split between him and Trump. nt

[ozone_man]

68. Hillary and Trump will split the conservative vote

While Bernie will take true Democrats, Independents, Progressives, many libertarians.

[casperthegm]

73. ^Bingo

Democrats and Republicans are both about 25-29% of voters each. There are more independent voters in this country than members of either party (yet another reason the DNC is crazy to have closed primaries = alienate a huge voter block). With so many independent voters and real, progressive Democrats out there I think Sanders would have a real chance.

And he'd be the real Democrat, if we base that determination on the issues; fracking, Wall Street, Glass Steagall, insurance for all, trade agreements, etc. Sorry, can't argue these facts.

[HooptieWagon]

107. When was the last time a third party candidate got any electoral votes?

Let's get real. Hillary is not going to split the Conservative vote with Trump. A number of Sanders supporters will vote for Hillary because she's the Dem Party candidate. As much as I like Bernie, he can't win as a third party candidate. Best he can do is to get that party some media attention.
Also, he can't get on the ballot in some states.

[RKP5637]

168. I agree! Bernie knows what would happen. He has no interest in splitting the D party and giving

Trump a potential path to the WH. I just don't think in the GE there is enough momentum for a third party to win.

[PeaceNikki]

3. No way in hell. He's be a spoiling asshole without ballot access in many key states.

[Baobab]

108. I do think Sanders would win, because ...

stuff like TiSA would be so bad for the people of this country, people would lose it if this is hidden from them until after the election.

I think that everybody with any sense will realize that and since HRC is wedded to these deals, literally, and Sanders is against them, he's the only/best route to escaping from them. Endorsing them by voting for HRC is like saying, I'm okay with this deal, let the rest of the world lower our skilled wages to minimum wage.

Read the links in the references in this PDF too- they are not cut and pasteable, but they are on Google, read them.

http://www.cuts-geneva.org/pacteac/images/Documents/EAC%20Forum/Forum17/EAC%20Geneva%20Forum-%20WTO%20Note%2017.pdf

[Agschmid]

4. No he doesn't win.

And most likely the election goes to the House.

It would be unprecedented.

[onehandle]

5. Fuck no, 'Not Hillary' Party.

Bernie is better than that. You don't know him at all.

[TowneshipRebellion]

106. Not according to many HRC supporters on this site.

Last edited Wed Apr 27, 2016, 04:03 AM - Edit history (1)

They call him an inept old coot who wants to empty their retirement accounts. Which is it?

[emulatorloo]

119. Don't listen to them, Listen to Bernie

He said he will not run as an independent.

[Squinch]

202. Please do show where any of that was ever said by anyone on this site. Thank you in advance.

[Carolina]

6. He'll have my vote

[JTFrog]

7. Lol. Ok. n/t

[grntuscarora]

8. I'll vote for him, if he runs I.

Done holding my nose for the least disgusting candidate.

[morningfog]

9. No.

[NowSam]

10. Got to overcome election fraud

That is the key. If that can be overcome than yes!

[brooklynite]

11. You understand he has to win an absolute majority of Electoral votes? Not just more than the others

[Chan790]

128. I'm frustrated by how few people understand that.

If more people understood how the EC works...they'd never propose anything as stupid as a 3rd party run unless they value denying the election to Clinton ahead of keeping the GOP out of the White House.

Don't get me wrong...I still hate Hillary's guts, but my course of action is to start tomorrow to change the party landscape so dramatically that she realizes it's futile to even run for reelection and doesn't bother even trying in 4 years. The future of this revolution, if it has one...is to take over the DNC, oust Clintonites from Congress in primaries and give Hillary a hostile party as soon as 2018 that she has to capitulate to, to get anything she wants even half-done.

[Samantha]

12. Yes, with the Independents and Republicans that support him he could win (eom)

[brush]

127. Sanders is a socialist. No republicans will support him.

[Samantha]

138. He is a Democratic Socialist who attracts 25 percent of the Republican vote in Vermont (eom)

[Fresh_Start]

14. in a alternate reality maybe, in this world, not a chance nt

nt

[TheProgressive]

32. Why would you say that?

Given that Sanders beats Trump by a yuge margin is impressive...

[Fresh_Start]

52. because if he runs third party, the vote where sanders beats trump is no longer sanders

it will be split between sanders and clinton.

It won't be a two party election, it will be a three party election.
If you don't understand, cut a pizza in two pieces with 60% democratic and 40% GOP.
Then cut the 60% democratic into two pieces...with the bigger piece being 33% and the smaller piece being 27%.

You will figure out that Donald will win.

[TheProgressive]

60. 'If I don't understand"...

[Fresh_Start]

63. not trying to be obnoxious...I know that math is not everyone's strength

or you might not realize that those polls were two person polls not three person polls.

[Loudestlib]

101. Not trying is right.

[Godhumor]

15. Run along n/t

[seabeyond]

16. No. He would be vetted. He would have to give up taxes. His campaign finances would be investigated

And, he would pull some from both parties but not enough to hurt either, I think.

[BillZBubb]

26. He would be fully vetted in a week and would come out clean as a whistle.

And he would pull a massive number of potential Democratic voters away. Hillary would lose badly instead of just losing by a nose.

[seabeyond]

44. No he wouldn't.

[R B Garr]

178. He couldn't even handle one basic vetting interview by the NYDN.

Vetting is more than pretending you are morally superior.

[NWCorona]

17. Maybe as he won't have to worry about closed systems but he won't run nt

[BillZBubb]

18. No, it would pretty much seal a republican win.

Either straight up or in the House of Representatives.

Hillary going to have enough trouble winning if it is just her versus trump.

[tammywammy]

19. No, Trump would win.

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. Depends on what's more important; history, or fairness and equality. nt

[Jackilope]

21. I think Yes. Trump and HRC are two polarizing and really hated candidates.

[artislife]

97. +1

[northernsouthern]

180. +2

I think they both have record high negatives. Bernie has the highest positive. Hillary gets some republican votes that are about business. Bernie gets some republicans that are about work. Trump and Hillary split the divisive votes. That would possibly leave Bernie the best of from the 40% non-partisan votes. Our economy is showing some bad signs at this moment as well...so if it tanks not sure who it will help more, but I would think it would destroy Hillary on her status quo (the guy that predicted the first collapse is being joined by a few more about a second one). I think the bigger issue is that Hillary will most likely lose anyways, so a three way race may be the only way to get a Dem in to office. There is also the hope that the Republicans will split at the convention.

[sabbat hunter]

22. no he would lose

and lose big.

[qdouble]

23. No way in hell.

Most republicans wouldn't vote him, most democrats wouldn't vote for him....he may get a decent share of indies but not enough to win.

[Gomez163]

24. I would have thought promoting a third party here violates DU TOS

[JoePhilly]

35. Na, all the cool kids are doing it!

[musicblind]

47. It is, but they don't seem to enforce the TOS during the primaries? n/t

[bvf]

172. Look who's fretting about ToS.

That's funny as hell.

[mvd]

25. I don't know, but I really hope he stays a Democrat

We could use him in our party badly. He, like Warren, is one of a kind. I also think he should stay after running for the Presidency as a Democrat. Not staying may be fodder for Bernie haters.

[COLGATE4]

93. Stays a democrat? He never has been a Democrat. nt

[mvd]

94. No. He is running for the Democratic nomination

If he wins, he would be a Democrat. Now I hope he continues in our party.

[COLGATE4]

174. That's actually questionable. I've never heard or seen anything

he's said that indicates that he will drop his identification as Socialist and change it to Democrat. Given all the bad things he's had to say about the Democratic Party in the past I think it's very unlikely.

[Turin_C3PO]

190. He's not a Socialist.

There's a big difference between identifying Democratic Socialist and just plain Socialist. He's said that many times.

[COLGATE4]

194. The last I knew, he was described in the Senate as "Bernie Sanders, Socialist".

I don't know of any Democratic Socialist Party in the US, at least one that has more than 10 members.

[Turin_C3PO]

195. He was an Independent from 1979-2015.

He was never a Socialist. He described himself as a democratic socialist but he was officially Independent.

[COLGATE4]

197. OK. Independent. In no case has he ever described himself

as a Democrat and, when he does describe himself, it's as a Socialist.

[SCantiGOP]

27. Trump could win, but Clinton probably would

[Chasstev365]

28. There is one unlikely way he could win:

Dem nominee = Hillary
Rep nominee = Cruz or Kasich
Trump = Independent
Sanders = Independent

In that four way race, Bernie wins.

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. Someone earlier pointed out to me that this scenario throws the election to the house.

Who will most likely pick cruz or kasich

[TheProgressive]

45. I don't think that is correct...

Who ever has the most electoral votes would win...

[lumberjack_jeff]

61. from archives.gov

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html#no270

What happens if no presidential candidate gets 270 Electoral votes?

If no candidate receives a majority of Electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the President from the 3 Presidential candidates who received the most Electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote. The Senate would elect the Vice President from the 2 Vice Presidential candidates with the most Electoral votes. Each Senator would cast one vote for Vice President. If the House of Representatives fails to elect a President by Inauguration Day, the Vice-President Elect serves as acting President until the deadlock is resolved in the House.

[TheProgressive]

70. The number 270 is nowhere in the Constitution...

I believe this is the way it use to before Amendments...

[jg10003]

92. the constitution say 51% of electoral votes, i.e. 270

[Recursion]

136. Nope. One candidate needs a majority, or it goes to the House (the *new* House, in fact)

And there it gets really weird, because they don't vote individually but by state, and must choose one of the top three vote winners from the EC.

[Urchin]

71. That's exactly

what I've been thinking.

[Lars39]

161. I saw that one play out with my inlaws...

Did not want Hillary, Trump was crazy, the rest of the clown car were down on immigration or were false prophets. Inlaws voted Bernie.

[lumberjack_jeff]

29. The west coast, maybe. n/t

[99Forever]

30. May or may no.

He'd have my vote either way.

No more settling for the less shitty of two very shitty candidates for me. EVER AGAIN.

[Tortmaster]

142. 14k+ posts, and ...

... this is your takeaway on Democracy? You have wasted your time here, my friend.

[99Forever]

144. Yes I have.

And if you think what happened in this primary was "democracy," then I'm not the only one wasting time.

At least I know enough not to capitalize democracy.

[JoePhilly]

31. No.

[Unicorn]

34. Yes.

[AgingAmerican]

36. Yes

He would get much Democratic, Independent and disgruntled Republican supporters voting for him and he would win.

[Gman]

37. Trump in a walk

[beachbum bob]

38. Zero chance...would give gop the Whitehouse and destroy America

Bernie doesnt hate America to see that happen

[Joe the Revelator]

40. Hyperbole.

[beachbum bob]

66. Reality...math still shows trump would win

Under this scenario...

[artislife]

99. +1

[Worldly Traveler]

39. Certainly!

[PowerToThePeople]

41. He would Bern it up.

I like the idea, hope he seriously considers it if June does not have him winning the primary.

[Joe the Revelator]

42. No, but it may lead to a third party. Even better if Trump gets fucked out of the nomination..

and we have 4 candidates running in the general. That would be ideal.

[Snotcicles]

43. I have a better idea. If we want Bernie supporters to work as enthusiastically for Clinton

if she should win the primaries and help the down ticket Democrats win seats. All the Democrats have to do is endorse and pledge to make him Senate Majority Leader if the Democrats win the administration and a senate majority. That would be my second choice for him, and I'd work my ass off to see to it that the democrats take control of the administration and the legislature.

[TheProgressive]

48. That would not happen...

We need Sanders as President to rid America of the establishment oligarchs...

[Snotcicles]

55. I'm saying if she wins takes the nomination. nt

[dreamnightwind]

75. Interesting idea, actually

I don't know that Senate Majority Leader has enough power for him to make a huge difference, but it certainly isn't nothing, and Bernie's authenticity could elevate the approval ratings of Democrats in Congress.

I doubt the party establishment would go along with this idea unless forced to by a threat of Bernie running 3rd party (such a run would be seen as seriously hurting Hillary's chance to win the general election so they would perhaps be more inclined to offer him something substantial).

[Urchin]

115. Dog?

What kind of dog is that?

[dreamnightwind]

116. I dunno

I would guess it's a golden retriever, but I don't know dogs as well as many people.

It''s just a random gif I grabbed way back when Loonix was shown the door here, she had an annoying bug in her tagline that always moved around. Never liked the bug really but I liked her posts and it seemed a more light-hearted tribute than some of the bugs attacking H's or the corporatist fly-swatters squishing the bugs. This is just a silly inept dog sniping at an elusive bug it will never destroy.

I'll change my gif soon, it's probably worn out its welcome. Peace. And welcome to DU, assuming you're not one of Brock's minions.

[Urchin]

120. Thanks

I was thinking golden retriever. Anyway, i want one!

[glowing]

208. Omg, senate leader brings the bills to the floor.

He could flood the chambers with progressive legislation that then the people rise to in massive pressure for their reps to vote for.

The most powerful people are actually our reps who legislate... And I know people have forgotten this because they haven't been doing anything but saying "NO" on everything, but they truly are.

Shoot, the Senate could investigate banks, wall st, federal depts, military, CIA. He could freaking clean house. I would prefer him as senate leader over President any day. He's the amendment King.. I think he'd get it done for us there and with BernieCrats at his back pressuring congress and the President, he'd probably get a whole lot of shit done for us. Holly F-balls, if they could guarantee all of us he becomes Senate leader, I'd support his nominating Hillary at the convention and actually vote for the corrupt woman... With Bernie stuffing her in-box with progressive legislation AND with investigative powers over military and real oversight over drones and war/ regime change, shoot we'd lock her ass down on being a progressive OR she'd have her ass primaries by 2020 and lose to an Elizabeth Warren or someone like that.

[LeFleur1]

118. Civics

Why did they stop teaching civics in 8th grade and high school? People don't seem to have any idea how our government works. We have three branches of government, not a dictatorship.

[TheProgressive]

50. Landslide....? Absolutely, and that's my point...

[Trajan]

49. How does the Electoral College fit into this equation?

Say, three candidates are in the race, and none reach the 'Magic Number'?

What happens then?

[TheProgressive]

57. What magic number are you referring to?

A majority of the electoral votes winds period... remember BClinton/Bush/Perot...?

[Trajan]

64. I quote

"Today a President must win 270 electoral votes, a majority, to become President. If no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes, the 12th Amendment to the Constitution provides for Presidential election by the House of Representatives with each State delegation receiving one vote."

That magic number ...

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/history.html

[TheProgressive]

76. Nope, I don't read that in the Constitution or the Amendments...

[thucythucy]

111. A majority of electoral votes = 270 or more.

That's the simple truth, and that's why Bernie couldn't possibly win. The "best" he could do is deny a majority to the other two candidates, which means it goes to the House, which means a Trump presidency.

[Recursion]

137. FFS it's the 12th amendment

"The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice."

[bettyellen]

51. LOL. Nope. And he might as well retire.

[glowing]

209. Why? He's super popular in VT and as an original VT'er, I'm proud as hell of him!

[Luciferous]

53. I don't think so but I'm voting for him no matter what.

[dr60omg]

58. YES and I wish he would have done so in the beginning

instead of trying to do what was the polite thing

[In Truth We Trust]

59. Yes...please do!

[Lisa0825]

62. Not a chance. To think so is delusional. He'd just be Nader or possibly Perot to the contest. nt

[Urchin]

65. If the Republican Party Splits

with either Trump or Cruz forming a third party, then someone like Bernie running as a fourth party candidate could have a strong chance of winning.

[puffy socks]

67. I think he would lose big because of this alone

"If we were serious about winning this election, which is always my intention from day one, I thought we could and I hope that we will. I had to do it within the Democratic primary caucus process," he said.

"What I did not want to do is run as a third party candidate, take votes away from the Democratic candidate and help elect some right-wing Republican. I did not want responsibility for that. So what I said at the beginning of the campaign is that I was not going to run as an independent. And I say it now, that if I do not win this process I will not run as an independent."

[Adrahil]

69. He'd Nader it.

Not to mention he'd be breaking his word.... Hardly good for the image of a guy presenting himself as "honest."

I do not expect him to do it.

[ismnotwasm]

72. Nope.

[amborin]

74. yes

[Agnosticsherbet]

77. No.

He would run as an independent to elect Donald Trump.

[mythology]

78. Did Nader? Did Perot?

He would run a very distant 3rd. And in a worst case scenario he would cause the election to go to the House of Representatives and result in the Republican candidate winning on that vote.

[NorthCarolina]

79. Without a doubt. nt

[PyaarRevolution]

80. He could if the Republicans don't go all in for Trump.

And try to fracture it at the nomination. Even then a great deal of Republicans may STILL not vote for Trump.

If it becomes a 3 way and then Bernie runs making it a 4 way absolutely.

[dreamnightwind]

81. Good question, and it's hard to say, really

I think Bernie's approval numbers keep getting better as people get more familiar with him, and my guess is that the opposite happens with Trump and Hillary, who are tremendously flawed candidates.

Perhaps a better question is, would Bernie running 3rd party help or hurt the causes he believes in and fights for? In the short run and the long run. I'm not going to wade into those waters, but that question is not as simple as it looks, and deserves some thought.

[napi21]

82. NO! However he has enough followers to enable a Trump WIN!

Remember Ralph Nader?

I honestly don't think Bernie will do that. He's already said "I will not be a spoiler" and I believe him.

[rpannier]

83. I don't think he would, but I'm not sure

I think if he did run 3rd Party it would encourage those dissatisfied investors in the other party to find a 4th candidate to run

[peacebird]

84. I'm writing in Bernie for the General anyway

[deathrind]

85. Yes.

The amount of fund raising a candidate does is not a true picture of the candidates support.

A candidate with a million people giving one dollar each is much stronger than a candidate getting a million dollars from one person.

[thucythucy]

87. No.

[nolawarlock]

88. I think this is Democratic Underground. n/t

[VOX]

89. Like an ice cube on the sun...

Absolutely NO way any third-party candidate could get to 270 electoral votes.

Might as well hand the keys to Trump right now.

[Freddie Stubbs]

90. We kicked his ass once, we can do it again

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. He said he won't and he is a man of his word

[gollygee]

95. No, and he isn't an idiot, so he won't do that. N/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

96. that is not the way to go. If Bernie doesn't win, I look forward to the stomping out of the D & R

parties as they now are and forming a truly progressive party. One that does not sweep anti-Democratic votes and backroom deals under the rug. One that supports women's issues instead of paying lipservice and then wavering on abortion rights.

A girl can dream, and that's what this girl dreams for.

[KoKo]

98. Both Bernie and Jane say "Emphatic No" to Indy Run!

No Go!

[jg10003]

100. This is why a 3rd party can never win - trigger alert: math heavy

Consider the following scenario:

POPULAR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT
Independent = 33.6%
Dem = 33.4%
GOP = 33%

Remember, Ross Perot got 19% of the popular vote. So it is conceivable, though unlikely, that a 3rd party candidate could win a small plurality of the popular vote.

However, the constitution says that a person must win a majority in the Electoral Collage, i.e. 51% (270 votes). Perot did not win a single electoral vote, even though nearly 1 in 5 people voted for him. Given the popular vote in the example above, the best that the independent candidate could hope for is to win a few states and come in 3rd in the electoral vote. If that were to happen then no candidate would win a majority in the Electoral Collage.

If no one wins the Electoral Collage, the House of Representatives chooses the president. But the house members do not vote individually, each state delegation get 1 vote. So whichever party controls the majority of state delegations will select its' own candidate. So in the case above, the republican, who came in last in the popular vote, becomes president. The senate selects the vice-president.

This is why Bloomberg isn't running as an independent. Even with 35 billion dollars, it simply cannot be done.

[Urchin]

122. What's the math look

What's the math look like for a four party election?

[Urchin]

123. What's the math look like . . .

What's the math look like for a four party election?

[jg10003]

134. same thing, no one wins electoral college

[Jester Messiah]

102. Probably wouldn't work out.

Might be worth doing anyway.

[Starry Messenger]

103. No.

[Vattel]

104. no

[HooptieWagon]

105. No.

The Republican will win a three-way or four-way race. Three-way because the Dem/Left Indie vote is split. Repub wins a 4-way race because it's likely no candidate gets 270 electoral votes, and the election gets thrown into the House of Reps lap, they will elect the Rrpublican candidate.

[GulfCoast66]

109. He can't even when the Democratic primary

And he can suddenly win the general election? Some of you have gone off the rails and have never read the constitution. He would do worse than Ross Perot did. Ensure a Trump presidency. And go down as one of the most reviled men in American political history

[Lazy Daisy]

110. I'm thinking Bernie has better

class than that. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. He has said from the beginning that's not something he wanted to do.
I believe his highest goal is to keep a Republican from The White House.

[laserhaas]

112. Beyond any doubt..Indies are equal to either party

And 33% of Dems, plus 25 % of GOP would vote Bernie

[ContinentalOp]

130. It boggles my mind to think that anybody could genuinely believe this!

You really think 25% of republicans would vote for a candidate who identifies as a socialist? Do you not realize that 2/3rds of indies are just D or R partisans who think it sounds cool to say they're independent? Were you not alive in the year 2000 to witness how a third party candidate on the left turns out?

[IamMab]

113. Let's check with former Presidents Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. Oh... right. Nevermind! nt

[Blue_In_AK]

114. Moot.

Not going to happen.

[LostOne4Ever]

117. No. nt

[Stuckinthebush]

121. You are thinking yes?

Jesus Christ. Why? He can't even win the Dem nomination. Why In gods name would you think he'd win the general as an independent?

Lord. Crazy town

[onenote]

176. +1

[Jester Messiah]

210. Because in the general, Debbie wouldn't have her thumb on the scale. n/t

[onenote]

124. too late now.

I doubt he ever could have mounted a winning independent campaign, but there's really no practical opportunity for him to mount one now, unless he wants to drop out of the Democratic race immediately.

The deadline for getting on the November ballot is before the Democratic National Convention in around 14 states. Another dozen or so have deadlines less than a week after the convention. So he'd have to drop out now and announce his independent run. And doing so would cost him any semblance of credibility.

[JPnoodleman]

125. No, but I do wish he would IMHO.

[Chan790]

126. No. Nobody wil win in the EC and it'll get kicked to Congress.

Horrible, stupid idea unless you really want President Paul Ryan to serve with VP Clinton.

I sure as fsck don't.

[ContinentalOp]

129. You make me feel so old

I realize that Sanders supporters are mostly young people who have never voted before but it's weird for me to realize that they have no idea who Ralph Nader was or what happened in 2000.

[Tiggeroshii]

131. Yes

Highest number of independents registered in this country than at any point. Most are pretty liberal leaning and disenchanted with the political process. He is likely to take a large majority of their votes, split the democratic votes and bite into the Republican vote just a little bit. He already pretty much has that coalition, but they are being excluded from the process through voter registration purges and closed primaries.

[procon]

132. Yes, child, just as soon as the two parties put a majority of Independent electors in place.

Hush now and go to sleep.

[ContinentalOp]

133. Sanders would have a serious shot in a four way race...

...between himself, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, and Lyndon LaRouche.

[Zynx]

135. Nope. Not even close.

[Warren DeMontague]

139. His name is not Ralph Nader.

It's not happening.

[Tortmaster]

140. Sanders' name would go down in infamy like Nader's.

He would not win. But he might make it close, or even hand the election to Trump.

Face it, folks, Senator Sanders has had Republican wind at his back from day one in this campaign. (Much like he had NRA wind at his back when he finally won a seat in Congress in 1990). If he runs as an independent, he would not have that Republican wind.

Nice to see, though, that as soon as Trump mentions Sanders running as a third party candidate there are people who are tuned into that. Those are the people to keep an eye on.

[Jester Messiah]

211. Only among the foolish.

It's stupid to basically blame the voters for going with a candidate whom they felt represented them the best. You're basically saying "Fuck that guy for giving them a better option! They should have to eat the shit sandwich we put on their plate!"

[Joob]

143. He would. If he Invoked the power of his rallies, tie it into how politics work.

People like Game of Thrones right? Throw it in. He'd win. Corruption is real.

[grossproffit]

145. No, he wouldn't.

[DrDan]

146. do you think he can win if not even on the ballot in Texas, Michigan and Virginia?

[grossproffit]

147. YES! We'll start a petition and DEMAND him be on the ballot!

You know that's coming.

[DrDan]

148. demand in the face of state laws? good luck with that.

[Hiraeth]

149. I. don't. know.

[baldguy]

150. If Sanders runs as an independent, he can go fuck himself.

[B Calm]

154. After Clinton supporters on GDP have been screaming that Bernie is NOT a Democrat,

they get upset at just the thought of him running as an independent.

[baldguy]

159. An independant run would pretty much prove it, and hand the WH to Trump, to boot.

Why are you supporting Donald Trump for President?

[B Calm]

163. I'm not, just pointing out the hypocrisy of Hillary supporters

who scream that Bernie is not a democrat.

[baldguy]

164. At this point if you claim to be supporting Sanders, you're really supporting Trump.

Why do you support Donald Trump?

[B Calm]

165. You are Hilarious. I could say the same thing to you, why are you supporting Trump?

[baldguy]

167. I support the Democratic Party nominee. You don't. You support those opposing her.

At the head of that group is Donald Trump. Why do you support Donald Trump?

[B Calm]

169. So who is the nominee? Again, I just pointed at the hypocrisy of Hillary supporters who have

claimed that Bernie is not a Democratic candidate and whine at just the thought of him running for president as an independent

[baldguy]

171. Hypocrisy is cliaming to be a progressive, but being in the bag for Donald Trump.

Why do you support Donald Trump?

[B Calm]

175. You are not making one bit of fucking sense!

Seriously

[Jester Messiah]

212. That's what is known as "false equivalence."

Why do you support logical fallacies?

[auntpurl]

162. I wouldn't have put it exactly that way, but yes, the sentiment is correct.

[PoliticAverse]

151. He's not going to run as an Independent. And no. n/t

[Vinca]

152. No. He'd split the Dem. vote and Trump would win.

That's why Bernie ran as a Democrat in the first place. It's a shame the party bosses didn't appreciate that.

[FBaggins]

153. Only if the Republicans block out Trump and he runs as well

In a 4-way race, Sanders would have a good chance.

[TeddyR]

155. Absolutely not

And I say that as a Bernie supporter. Very few Republicans would vote for him so he'd just split the Dem vote and give the election to the Republicans. And I certainly wouldn't vote for him as an independent candidate. I mean, there's zero chance he would win - he can't even win the Dem nomination.

[winter is coming]

156. No. Maybe in a four-way race. I don't see Bernie going for that. n/t

[bigwillq]

157. No (nt)

[artyteacher]

158. trump of course .... eom

[apcalc]

160. No chance of winning....

[book_worm]

170. No, and he's not running as an independent--there are sore loser laws on the books

too.

[pinebox]

173. Absolutely he'd win

I imagine a lot will say no but the reality is people are sick of politics and politicians. It's obvious why too from the antics we've seen this election season. When America votes (that means not just the little Democrats bubble) Bernie wins. Indy voters are 2x the base .
It's THAT simple.

[Kelvin Mace]

177. He won't

[Kip Humphrey]

179. yes

[KansDem]

181. yes

He would garner the votes of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans.

[TeddyR]

183. What makes you think that?

Since he isn't getting Dem votes now?

[KansDem]

192. For starters, many Republicans don't like Trump...

The Lifelong Republicans Who Love Bernie Sanders
Some conservatives are defying expectation and backing the Vermont senator.

When Tarie MacMillan switched on her television in August to watch the first Republican presidential debate, she expected to decide which candidate to support.

But MacMillan, a 65-year-old Florida resident, was disappointed. “I looked at the stage and there was nobody out there who I really liked. It just seemed like a showcase for Trump and his ridiculous comments,” she recalled. “It was laughable, and scary, and a real turning point.”

So she decided to back Bernie Sanders, the self-described “Democratic socialist” challenging Hillary Clinton. MacMillan was a lifelong Republican voter until a few weeks ago when she switched her party affiliation to support the Vermont senator in the primary. It will be the first time she’s ever voted for a Democrat.

That story may sound improbable, but MacMillan isn’t the only longtime conservative supporting Sanders. There are Facebook groups and Reddit forums devoted entirely to Republicans who adore the Vermont senator.

The Atlantic

And then there are the Independents...

Why Independent Voters Will Propel Bernie Sanders to the White House

Independents won New Hampshire for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. On the Republican side, 42 percent of voters identified as independent, and Trump won 36 percent of the independent vote to Marco Rubio’s 18 percent, who placed second in that category. Likewise, 40 percent of Democratic primary voters in the Granite State identified as independent, and Bernie Sanders won 73 percent of those votes. Both Sanders and Trump beat their nearest opponents in the New Hampshire primary by double digits.

In Massachusetts, a traditionally blue state that went to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in each primary, 50 percent of Republican independents went for Trump. The second-place candidate, John Kasich, only got 20 percent of independent voters. And even though Hillary Clinton won Massachusetts by a narrow margin, Bernie Sanders won the independent vote by a 66-33 margin. Independents made up one-third of the Democratic electorate in the Bay State and 49 percent of the Republican electorate.

Even in states where Clinton beat Sanders by considerable margins, Sanders took home the independent vote in a landslide. Independents made up 22 percent of the Democratic primary electorate in Virginia and Sanders beat Clinton in that voting group by 16 points, despite Clinton winning Virginia with 64 percent of the overall vote.

When examining the results from last night’s Michigan primary, independent voters may have very well been the key to Bernie Sanders’ victory. 23 percent of Democratic primary voters identified as independent, and Sanders walloped Clinton by a 71-28 margin among independents.

US Uncut

Now, while more Democrats prefer Clinton, are there enough to offset the Republicans and Independents voting for Sanders?

[rock]

182. Now let's see

He couldn't win the primary. Er, so no. Although I do admit that Independent suits his political demeanor better than Democrat.

[jcgoldie]

185. he couldnt even get on the ballot in many states

Due to sore loser laws. Ie he already ran once this cycle and lost.

[nemo137]

187. The existence of the electoral college says no.

He'd need to get majorities in enough states to reach 270 (yes, yes, Maine and Nebraska have slightly different rules apportioning electors, but in general...), otherwise it goes to the House, which votes by delegation, which means a Republican president.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

188. Maybe, maybe not. But, it would the election a helluva lot more interesting.

[Demsrule86]

189. no

Trump wins.

[hamsterjill]

191. No.

He hasn't won the majority of votes cast in the primary, so why would anyone think he could win the general?

[Orsino]

193. By breaking a promise?

I can only see him losing some of the support he gained.

[iwannaknow]

196. Possibly!

[yourpaljoey]

203. Of course.

[Joe Nation]

204. Sanders would definitely come in second or third

[lakeguy]

206. yup, but he won't.

[yourout]

207. No...but I would vote for him.

Gladly.

[kentuck]

213. No

...