In Bernie Sanders, an unlikely — but real — threat to Hillary Clinton

[Jesus Malverde]

At the first glimpse of the rumpled 73-year-old senator from Vermont, the standing-room-only crowd at a historic inn here Sunday morning erupted — leaping up, waving signs and breaking into chants of “Bernie, Bernie, Bernie!”

The scene has become a familiar one as Bernie Sanders makes a most unexpected surge in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Sanders — a self-described democratic socialist — has seen his crowds swell and is gaining ground in the polls on the formidable Democratic front-runner, Hillary Rodham Clinton. In New Hampshire, where Sanders was on yet another weekend swing, one survey last week showed him within 8 percentage points of Clinton.

Sanders’s emerging strength has exposed continued misgivings among the party’s progressive base about Clinton, whose team is treading carefully in its public statements. Supporters have acknowledged privately the potential for Sanders to damage her — perhaps winning an early state or two — even if he can’t win the nomination.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-bernie-sanders-an-unlikely--but-real--threat-to-hillary-clinton/2015/06/28/feb64a74-1daf-11e5-84d5-eb37ee8eaa61_story.html

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Not the first time an Underdog marginalized the " Front-runner " Hillary .

[Jester Messiah]

2. Always with the little proviso at the end.

"Well, of COURSE he can't WIN. How could anyone defeat our glorious, inevitable queen?" I absolutely BURN (or is it Bern) to prove them wrong.

[TheNutcracker]

3. Bernie Sanders all the way!!

[orpupilofnature57]

17. + 1000 !!!!!!

[pablo_marmol]

4. If Bernie is our nominee I'll be dancing to the polls.

Otherwise I'll be shuffling slowly.

[question everything]

5. No. He will probably win Iowa and New Hampshire

Iowa - because in order to spend several hours on a cold winter night and to stand up and be counted, you really have to be dedicated. This is why Huckabee and Santorum won in 2008 and in 2012 and an unknown black man - Obama - won in 2008. I participated in caucus night in 1988 and at my caucus - about 200 white suburbanites - Jesse Jackson was tied with Bruce Babbitt.

And he will win New Hampshire because he is a neighbor. But once he moves to Nevada and South Carolina, and then Super Tuesday, he will fade away.

[Maedhros]

10. [n/t]

https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/GZHQLLKpf0BX0lX7.86HVA--/dz05NTY7c209MTtmaT1maWxsO3B5b2ZmPTA7aD01Mzg7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/

[betterdemsonly]

16. Iowa isn't the only caucus state.

If Obama can breakout in other states besides Iowa so can Bernie.

[question everything]

24. Not the same. Obama was new with a blank slate

Yes, he had a detailed campaign page but otherwise no records. Yes, he objected to the Iraq war - while an Illinois senator where his objection really did not count. And he also had that rousing speech at the 2004 Democratic convention.

Still, I remember observing in 2008 that the lack of track record meant that everyone could project wishes and hopes on him. And many - whites and blacks, especially in the south - voted for him because he is black.

Almost immediately after he secured the nomination there were rumblings here and someone had a great summary of that.

And, of course, look at the past few weeks how complaints and disappointments were heaped on him on these pages. How so many expressed their disillusion with him.

Sanders has a long track record. No surprises there and I think many would hesitate to vote for a "socialist."

I saw him on one of the Sunday shows - don't remember which - and he expressed his stand by using percentage. The 0.1% of the rich have more than the other 90 percent.. And I can see people eyes glazing over.

Also, Hillary has a better campaign manager - one hopes. They screwed up royally in 2008 when they thought that winner took all - as the Republicans did. Thus they thought that hey, once they win the big states - California and New York = which she did, the race was over.

[swilton]

22. Really?

So you discount that he already has support from the South Carolina AFLCIO?

[azmom]

6. We are just getting started. Go Bernie Go

[Vincardog]

8. Bernie will win an early state or two — then he will win the nomination - Then the general. The only

Question is how many RW nut jobs can we bet rid of in the process?

WE can do this

[Thespian2]

9. If Bernie doesn't win,

within a year or less, folks will wish to Hell (or should that be "heaven"?) he had won...

[rhett o rick]

11. If the Leaders of the Democratic Party were thinking about the people, they

would support Sen Sanders. He has lit a fire under many that have not voted recently. This should be the goal of the Party but sadly, the Party Leaders and DNC, etc. all are owned by the billionaires and they would rather lose the general than let a progressive win the primary.

[Thespian2]

12. I am sorely afraid

you are correct...I think they own everyone except Bernie...although I don't know much about O'Malley...

[orpupilofnature57]

18. He's worked for Hillary in the past , and after seeing that bogus NRA ad, I think his

function is a detractor .

[Thespian2]

20. Thanks...

[questionseverything]

21. i agree

[99Forever]

23. Exactly.

At this point, there is one and only trustworthy and honest candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders. I'm actually thankful O'Malley showed his true colors so early on.

[Kalidurga]

13. People at the Pride Festival...

Overwhelmingly supported Bernie. We will have at least 2,000 troops on the ground canvassing in Minnesota.

[BrotherIvan]

14. Were they wearing shirts or had signs?

Just curious. We keep hearing all these stories and see the crowds and then the inevitable poll is posted to show how he can't win. It doesn't jive with a lot of people's experience that they are reporting.

[Kalidurga]

15. We ran out of buttons and bumper stickers in less than 2 hours.

The people in my group wore t-shirts except for me I wore all the buttons I made, including my peace, rainbow, Bernie 2016 button. We chased people with clipboards it was great. So many people new to the political process are excited over Bernie's campaign. I believe a revolution is underway. Oh and I think at least 2000 people are signed up to volunteer for the campaign. And we are going to have a bus for at least one Iowa event. I think it's important that our Minnesota group reaches out to our neighbors Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota let them know what can be accomplished in a short time, Dayton has turned this state around for the good.

[fadedrose]

19. He may win it...

On a Sunday news show, Gloria Borger (sp) was all excited about Bernie. She said that people were genuinely excited, more over him than Clinton, and I think Gloria may have been going too far with her liking of Bernie - Tapper had to add, yes, "but Hillary's first in the ratings." And the program ended.

State of the Union was the program. Jake Tapper is good, although when he first showed up on CNN I didn't care for him, but I think he's okay.