Sorry folks. There's no "secret shortcut" to taking Bernie down.

[DanTex]

With each new poll, the desperation of centrist pundits grows. And you keep seeing more twitter posts about how this or that little thing is "disqualifying". Whether it's some dumb thing Bernie said in 1970, or something rude someone on the internet posted, or the level of detail in his medical disclosure, or whatever else.

None of that is going to make any difference. Nobody who doesn't already hate Bernie cares.

If anyone is going to defeat Bernie, it's going to be because they articulate a set of policies that are more appealing to Democratic voters. Or a track record, set of values, vision, leadership, something that actually matters to voters, that would affect people's lives.

There's no secret shortcut. If someone else can prove themselves to be a better candidate, on substantive grounds, then credit to them. But the anti-Bernie people seem to have totally given up on that, and are now desperately flailing to find some "gotcha." But there is no gotcha. Sorry!

[CentralMass]

1. K&R

[Jersey Devil]

2. But Bernie is not exactly in control either

He does not have a majority, which he wii need at the convention to get the nomination and the primaries are not winner take all. Unless it becomes a 2 or 3 person race it is unlikely anyone can win a majority. So it is not a case of taking him down. Rather, it is a question of how he can build a coalition to get to a majority. I don’t think this contest has really started yet and you are counting chickens that not only haven’ hatched yet but also have not even been laid yet. So relax. Maybe by May or June we wii know where we are going, but certainly not now or next week or Super Tuesday.

[stlstdg]

3. It's a bit early to be taking victory laps

Especially given that at this point three quarters of Democratic primary voters
prefer someone else.

A person who's at the top of the polls, but who's not anywhere near even 50%
preference is not winning. He's just ahead--when 48 states have yet to have
primaries/caucuses. There's no one to "defeat."

It's way too early for Sanders folks to be celebrating, for anyone else to be
"panicking."

[DanTex]

4. And yet the anti-Bernie centrist pundits are, in fact, panicking. Go figure...

[NanceGreggs]

5. "Nobody who doesn't already hate Bernie cares."

Where have I heard that before? Oh, yeah - "Nobody who doesn't already hate Trump cares."

[CalFione]

6. He got 26% in two small states

He is in second in delegates.

He won NH by 1.3% - after leading in all polls by 6% to 8% on the final weekend before the primary. It was the smallest margin of victory in NH in the history of the NH primary. In a state that borders his own and should be a HOME game for him.

He tied Iowa - after leading in all polls by 5% to 7% on the final weekend before the caucus.

Bernie has underperformed his polls in each of the first two states by a large amount.



You're right - there is no "short-cut". Just count the votes and we'll see. Bernie has underperformed in two states he was favored to win big.

70% of the party wants someone else. They're still figuring out which of the someone elses they want. If/when they do, Bernie loses - because he has a hard ceiling that is south of 40%. If they do not, Bernie might squeak thru to the delegate lead when we get to Milwaukee.

Under almost no scenario does Bernie get to Milwaukee with 1,991 delegates. And at that point, we'll see what happens.

[msongs]

7. your wasting time trying to use math. being a perpetual victim ignores that sort of thing lol nt

[Quixote1818]

9. True but in head to head polling he beats everyone

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1228394098425384961&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fslate.com%2Fnews-and-politics%2F2020%2F02%2Fsanders-demolishes-bloomberg-buttigieg-and-klobuchar-head-to-head-says-new-poll.html

[Horizens]

8. 75%

of the voters have, to date, rejected bernie.

Most likely scenario as of today ... the convention is deadlocked with no winner on the first ballot. Moderates coalesce around a candidate. Bernie and the bros depart the convention whining, crying and blaming Hillary and/or bill and/or Chelsea and/or the super delegates and/or the DNC.

[brooklynite]

10. "Nobody who doesn't already hate Bernie cares."

Conversely, nobody who doesn't already support Bernie is drawn to him.

[uponit7771]

11. I don't see Sanders appeal, its not deep enough to make up support from lost middle

[katmondoo]

12. We lose with Bernie

[uponit7771]

13. If Warren was at top this thing would be a wrap, she'd choose Stacy Abrams as VP and we'd be ...

... putting MAGA Cultist in jail cause the number of rats jumping ship.

She's not contrasting herself with Sanders enough other than full disclosure which didn't help ... I do think she should contrast herself with Sanders.