Bernie Sanders' Biggest Problem: He better fix it or he's doomed

[Vidal]

According to POLITICO, "'Sanders needs to find a way to connect with longer established Democratic voters, and that’s older voters."

In the latest Morning Consult weekly tracking poll, Sanders leads Biden by 12 points among Democratic primary voters under 30, and Biden has only a 1-point lead among voters aged 30-44. But Biden leads Sanders by 44 points among seniors, 53 percent to 9 percent.

Bernie Sanders, 77, has a problem with old people. In poll after poll, he places a distant second behind former Vice President Joe Biden among the senior set, the demographic that has long had more sway over who becomes president than any other. His campaign acknowledges it's a problem and is trying — so far, unsuccessfully — to fix it. It’s a familiar issue for the septuagenarian senator: In 2016, Sanders won more voters from young people than Hillary Clinton and President Donald Trump combined. But Clinton crushed him among older Americans at the ballot box, denying him the nomination.

The possibility of the same weakness thwarting Sanders’ second bid for the White House looms over his campaign. Sanders’ team knows he needs to do better among older voters. The campaign is scheduling events to attract more elderly voters, including one on Thursday at a seniors community center in Nevada, and his aides are optimistic that his plans to expand Social Security and Medicare benefits will help.

But some of the same qualities that have made Sanders a folk hero among millennials could be repelling seniors. His embrace of democratic socialism and calls for a political revolution are likely a tougher sell to many older voters who lived through the Cold War and are generally more conservative. And in a year when Democrats just want to beat President Donald Trump, the Vermont independent is seen by some Democrats as less electable than, say, Joe Biden.

“Sanders needs to find a way to connect with longer established Democratic voters, and that’s older voters,” said Bhaskar Sunkara, a Sanders supporter who founded the socialist magazine Jacobin and is a former vice chairman of Democratic Socialists of America. “It's tricky. Biden has higher perceptions of electability, and it could be hard to convince people they should be voting for Bernie when they're already familiar with this other guy, and their main concern is getting Trump out of office."

Source: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/30/bernie-sanders-older-voters-1346590

[zentrum]

1. He has...

...no problem with the old people in my family. They love him.

And they love Warren too. Who, I guess, is considered "old".

[JoeOtterbein]

2. Thanks for posting my daughter's article! But I'll add:

Bernie's biggest hurdle: Old people like Biden a lot more
'Sanders needs to find a way to connect with longer established Democratic voters, and that’s older voters,' says one supporter.

By HOLLY OTTERBEIN 05/30/2019 05:04 AM EDT

[Kahuna7]

5. Right. I wonder who Bernie thinks the "establishment" that he likes to rail against are.

I know what he means. But loyal Democrats like myself consider ourselves to be the "establishment."

[JoeOtterbein]

9. I like to think of myself as being part of the Democratic...

...Underground!

[Kahuna7]

14. That's nice,,,,

I guess.. Do you.

[renate]

23. how cool! and how proud you must be!

The article is well written throughout, but I especially like the understated way that the first sentence sums up the paradox and dilemma so succinctly.

Please give her my congratulations! I'm impressed!

[JoeOtterbein]

25. Wow! That is so nice. And of course Holly is the best!

And I'll let Holly know about your nice comments!

[Doitnow]

3. I'm 84!

[Kahuna7]

4. He has never shown an interest in wanting connecting with older voters...

His entire campaign in 2016 was to center millennials...period. Campaigning on M4A will not attract more seniors to his campaign.

[comradebillyboy]

6. So what's Bernie going to do to earn my vote?

I doubt if there is anything that Bernie could do to get my vote. He has a very poor record and he can't paint over the past.

[brooklynite]

7. I thought Sanders' problem was that people didn't want to vote for him...

...that's why he lost last time.

[Madtown]

8. Well thats odd

Since Bernie is the guy who wants to fix social security and expand medicare. Seems to me they might be voting against their interests.

Snip~ { what you might find surprising is that early Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden, who you'd expect to fight for core Democratic principles in resolving Social Security's imminent cash crunch, including raising or eliminating the earnings cap, has called for Social Security cuts on three separate occasions over the past 12 years.}

https://www.fool.com/retirement/2019/05/17/joe-biden-has-called-for-social-security-cuts-3-ti.aspx

[Vidal]

16. That article has a false headline He did call for Soc. Security cuts 3 times

nt

[Blue_true]

36. Social Security and Medicare are not broken.

Congress could stop raiding the SS Trustfubd, but most people really like Medicare and it is well run.

[mtnsnake]

10. Sanders' & also Biden's biggest problems are right wing trolls who infiltrate forums & social media

with intentions of creating divisiveness among Democrats by pitting the supporters of our strongest candidates against one another.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Well there is that!

[comradebillyboy]

19. Sounds like you are talking about David Sirota.

[mtnsnake]

21. I think you have the wrong post, but just in case you don't, I'll repeat it:

It's right wing trolls who infiltrate forums & social media with intentions of creating divisiveness among Democrats by pitting the supporters of our strongest candidates against one another.

[babylonsister]

26. Exactly!! nt

[IluvPitties]

12. I am in my 30s and he's not my cup of tea!

[riverine]

13. I suspect Single Payer polls poorly among the over 60 set.

I cannot prove it though.

[Madtown]

15. but certainly not

for the 50ish plus voters. they might be horrified that they could loose that .

[Vidal]

17. Good point

I've worked extensively on healthcare and found that current Medicare recipients do not generally like Bernie's plan. It's not right, but they are afraid if they extend benefits to everyone, it will make their own Medicare insecure.

[babylonsister]

27. Curious why you think that as I am over 60. I

would like nothing better than for everyone to have healthcare.

[question everything]

18. His biggest problem is with Democrats who want someone with a D behind their names.

[peggysue2]

20. From several accounts, the Senator from Vermont needs to build relationships . . .

across several demographics. This article indicates a clear need with the older swath of the electorate. Several days ago a similar article indicated Sanders' realization that reaching out to the Democratic Establishment would be necessary if he wanted to win the nomination, the same establishment he continually bashes. There have also been indications that Bernie comes up short with African Americans and Hispanics, as he did in 2016. Then there are the state/local Democratic organizations that have complained the Sanders' campaign (unlike other candidate campaigns) has failed to connect, reach out, pickup the phone. This has been specifically noted in SC.

I suspect this 'awareness' has more to do with a failed strategy--that expected 30% plurality--in a huge field that did not account for a Joe Biden surge or Elizabeth Warren's steady climb in the polls. That's on Bernie Sanders and his team, not the media nor the Democratic Establishment nor any of the excuses fielded by his supporters and team.

Relationships, the real kind, take time to establish and nurture. You can't develop them on the fly. It's not as if Bernie Sanders hasn't had the time to do the outreach. Obviously, he didn't think it was necessary. Until now. IMHO, it's one of the weaknesses of being the outsider, the outlier. Sanders has never been the touchy-feely sort. And now, it shows.

[comradebillyboy]

22. You are so right. How does one build relationships whith the

people one has been shitting on for the last 30 years or so? How does one go from calling rivals 'corporate whores' or 'establishment shills' to asking for their support while never asking for forgiveness or admitting error?

[Skya Rhen]

24. Did Bernie ever apologize for falsely stating that he was laughed at by Anderson Cooper,

during a debate, when he said that climate change is the greatest national security threat?

I can't seem to find the link to the apology...

[Cha]

28. Exactly.. and why

now?

[comradebillyboy]

29. Same reason he tried to swing the superdelegates to his side

at the last minute last time, he's desperate.

[Cha]

30. ..

[Vidal]

32. Relationships are the key

Biden has them more than anyone else.

[Gothmog]

31. A large segment of the party is turned off by some of sanders proposals

Link to tweet

[Vidal]

33. So true

yet they can't see that. They think that his proposals are the only right ones.

[LibFarmer]

34. Many Democrats will never forgive or forget.

That is the problem.

[Gothmog]

35. The senior set, the demographic that has long had most sway over who becomes president

Link to tweet

[Blue_true]

37. I really hate to sound trivia.

But if you put Senator Sanders and former Vice President Biden in a room of people from all walks of life, you will see instantly why Biden is way ahead. Biden would be moving around the room chatting with and taking selfies with anyone that he came across, regardless of who they were. Bernie would be at a corner table staring at notes.

It all boils down to who you would want to have a drink with, all else being equal or close to equal.