Trumpworld torn over running against Bernie

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

Some advisers are salivating over running against a socialist. Others say they need to be careful what they wish for.

By ALEX ISENSTADT

01/28/2020 06:59 PM EST

President Donald Trump and his top political advisers were huddling in the Oval Office earlier this month discussing the state of the Democratic primary when they arrived at an increasingly pressing topic: What to do about Bernie Sanders?

Sanders was surging, and some of the Trump advisers were salivating at the thought of a self-described democratic socialist as their general election opponent. As the president listened, they argued for taking steps to elevate him in the primary to boost his prospects.

But others warned that Sanders wouldn’t necessarily be the pushover he might seem. They told the president, who was joined in the meeting by top officials including campaign manager Brad Parscale and pollster Tony Fabrizio, that the Vermont senator’s authenticity and populist appeal could draw some of the blue-collar voters who propelled the president to the White House.

With the Iowa caucuses less than a week away, Trump advisers and supporters are split over whether to wage an effort to bolster Sanders. While proponents think Sanders would be an ideal opponent, others are wary that the liberal firebrand could make for a dynamic challenger — with the ability to make inroads in the Rust Belt states likely to decide the outcome of the election.

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more Repub hand-wringing at link

[applegrove]

1. Bernie could wake up the 43% who voted for Trump because they wanted

to stick it to the elites. Bernie fits that narrative and he is good and clear on the stump.

[NCProgressive]

2. Trump is looking at it like a hyena looks at a wounded deer and drooling

Trump will eviscerate, decimate and pulverize Bernie in a few hours. Bernie will never recover. He will be lucky to win Vermont atthat point.

[BannonsLiver]

5. My guess

Is Bernie would spend much of the campaign on the defensive trying to explain his middle class tax increases he says are necessary to pay for his ideas. I see that as a very tough sell for Bernie. Americans just don’t do nuance.

[Bumperstickers]

3. Bernie offers something, Joe doesn't

Joe so far offers nothing but lets beat trump and i was vp, not sure thats gonna get non democrats to eat their breakfast and run out to vote for Joe before heading off to work. You actually need alot of independent votora to win a ge which Sanders does very well with.

[msongs]

4. politico lol nt

[David__77]

6. Trump is a fascist rapist, no?

They can go all crazy with “communist” this and that. There is plenty to say in response, and with force.

[JoeOtterbein]

7. Yep! When they cry "socialist", we yell back...

...Putin!