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In reply to the discussion: NYT-For Bernie Sanders, Holding Onto Support May Be Hard in a 2020 Bid [View all]Gothmog
(145,242 posts)83. 6 Reasons Bernie Sanders Has Lost His 2016 Mojo
Here is another interesting article speculating on the issues that may arise for the 2020 race http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/six-reasons-bernie-sanders-has-lost-his-2016-mojo.html
In 2016 Senator Bernie Sanders was a reasonably close runner-up to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. By losing that contest he evaded the blame for an unexpected loss to Donald Trump, and was also able to keep his political organization intact beyond Election Day. With Barack Obamas term wrapping up, moreover, Sanders looked suddenly prescient in taking left-bent policy positions that the president did not share but was no longer in a position to proscribe. And his most intense following in the primaries was among young voters that seemed to bond with him like baby ducks, following him henceforth as their political hero.
But as the 2020 presidential contest begins to unfold, Bernie Sanders is something of an afterthought, if not quite a has-been. Instead of initially clearing the field of major rivals like Hillary Clinton did in her return to the campaign trail after finishing second to Barack Obama in 2008, Sanders faces a historically large list of competitors if he runs. In scattered national polling, hes mired in the teens, well below Joe Biden and barely leading Beto ORourke. Hes not doing much better in the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, where he invested so much time and so many resources in 2016. The candidates that he and his Our Revolution organization backed in the 2018 midterms had a mixed record at best.
As the New York Times suggests, Sanders seems to have lost his mojo:
But as the 2020 presidential contest begins to unfold, Bernie Sanders is something of an afterthought, if not quite a has-been. Instead of initially clearing the field of major rivals like Hillary Clinton did in her return to the campaign trail after finishing second to Barack Obama in 2008, Sanders faces a historically large list of competitors if he runs. In scattered national polling, hes mired in the teens, well below Joe Biden and barely leading Beto ORourke. Hes not doing much better in the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, where he invested so much time and so many resources in 2016. The candidates that he and his Our Revolution organization backed in the 2018 midterms had a mixed record at best.
As the New York Times suggests, Sanders seems to have lost his mojo:
Mr. Sanders may have been the runner-up in the last Democratic primary, but instead of expanding his nucleus of support, in the fashion of most repeat candidates, the Vermont senator is struggling to retain even what he garnered two years ago, when he was far less of a political star than he is today.
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NYT-For Bernie Sanders, Holding Onto Support May Be Hard in a 2020 Bid [View all]
Gothmog
Dec 2018
OP
I totally share your feelings about this!! The division is toxic and it always weakens the party.
NurseJackie
Dec 2018
#73
I think I understand the cynical motivation of those who attack the Democratic party...
NurseJackie
Dec 2018
#91
I think a lot of us here are done being enchanted with him, Adrahil. He's always been a gadfly...
Hekate
Dec 2018
#50
A group running ads is going to scare candidates from supporting a progressive agenda?
betsuni
Dec 2018
#30
"Last time we ran, we made the financial elite pay a price for their attacks on our progressive
WhiskeyGrinder
Dec 2018
#59
Yes. Alas Pope Francis had no idea he was going to be there until he "bumped into him".....
George II
Dec 2018
#17
I'm not sure that "expanding a nucleus of support" is synonymous with "securing the nomination". N/T
lapucelle
Dec 2018
#33
that was the general election. the primary is made up of mostly black voters in the south
JI7
Dec 2018
#67
I fail to see what is productive about bashing Bernie around, but I do think that
Magoo48
Dec 2018
#57
Campaigning is not "bashing Bernie around". Speaking of which, did you see the email he sent...
George II
Dec 2018
#64