Democrats in Trump districts cast a nervous eye at a surging Sanders

[RandySF]

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Few people sound more excited about the prospect of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., winning the Democratic nomination than South Carolina Republicans.

"It's the best-case scenario," said Republican state Rep. Nancy Mace, who is running for her party's nomination to challenge freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham. "Really, it's the best-case scenario for any Republican on the ballot."

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, which covers over 100 miles of coast from north of Charleston down to Hilton Head Island, has long been a Republican stronghold. The district voted for Donald Trump by more than 13 points in 2016 and for Mitt Romney by more than 18 points in 2012.

Cunningham, 37, a former ocean engineer and Charleston-based lawyer, won the district by a slim 1.4 percentage points in 2018, becoming the first Democrat to represent the area since the 1970s.

Sanders' rise has many Democrats here worried that Cunningham's seat — the object of one of the most competitive House races in the country — would be even more vulnerable if a democratic socialist were at the top of the party's ticket in November. In conversations with down-ballot Democratic candidates and strategists here, many said they were crossing their fingers in hope that Sanders' momentum would come to a halt in South Carolina's primary this weekend.

"It is certainly a conversation that is happening regularly among Democrats. It's to the point that I think it's influencing who some folks will vote for on Saturday," said Brady Quirk-Garvan, the former chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party. "There is a deep concern about what a Sanders nomination would mean not just for congressional districts, but down-ballot."



https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/democrats-trump-districts-cast-nervous-eye-surging-sanders-n1142806

[sandensea]

1. I like Bernie - but he is a risky proposition, no doubt about it.

That's why I prefer Liz Warren: She shares most of Bernie's policy positions - without having made the mistake of adopting the "socialist" label.

Everything the left wing of the Democratic Party wants - without the things they don't.

Only time will tell.

[RandySF]

2. She's a force of nature.

[sandensea]

3. I agree - but alas her campaign's not doing too well, as you know.

For most of 2019, I thought we'd end up with a Biden-Warren ticket, to tell you the truth.

Now? Who knows.

Qué será.

[RandySF]

4. How about Liz Warren, Attorney General?

[sandensea]

5. Sounds great - Or at SEC or Treasury!

Whatever works - as long as this time next year, the president is a Democrat.

[RandySF]

6. I want to see her set loose on Republican crooks. :)

[sandensea]

7. Your words to God's ear!

We'll need an Argentina-style Trial of the Junta - or at the very least a South Africa-style Truth & Reconciliation Commission - by the time this Cheetocracy's kicked out.

Then again, Mandela granted blanket amnesty to all those who came forward of their own accord, which wouldn't work here.

Cheeto's people are, for the most part, unapologetic fascists - with a sense of entitlement the size of the Trump Tower.

[Desert grandma]

8. This is why GOP and Russia are all for Bernie.

He is not good for down ballot races, and those are crucial. We flipped red districts in 2018 by running moderate/center left candidates. The African American vote is necessary for a Democrat to defeat 45. I am hopeful that this SC primary will be a turning point in this primary and will propel Joe to the nomination. I like Bernie's policies but if we lose the GE and seats in Congress because we nominate him, I wonder if these "Berners" will accept responsibility for the losses we will incur. I will vote for him if he is the nominee, but I will not be excited about my vote. I will always vote BLUE. I am not confident that Bernie supporters will do the same.

[OnDoutside]

9. I saw an interesting tweet earlier...

If Bernie Bro Democrats don't want Republican input on who becomes the nominee, they should be opposing Trojan horse crossover voters in the primary, not applauding it

.

[SunSeeker]

10. Yup. I'm worried Sanders on the ticket could revert Orange County, CA to red. nt