Poll puts Sanders on presidential race radar

[JDPriestly]

167. Do you think Hillary would make a good candidate?

If so, why?

Do you think Hillary would make a good president?

If so, why?

What are the arguments for Hillary.

I have told you why I don't think she will make a good candidate or a good president. I have told you and everyone else on DU that many times.

But the only thing I hear about Hillary is that her poll numbers are good now about 2 years before the 2016 election and she has experience.

Bernie Sanders has more or as much political experience as Hillary. His poll numbers are not good yet although they aren't that bad for a newcomer to the presidential election, and he speaks the language of the people. In Vermont, he gets votes from Republicans and Democrats. That's because he speaks to the issues that trouble most Americans and doesn't just mouth some party line.

Republicans detest Hillary Clinton mostly because they have been brainwashed to dislike and distrust her. Do you think she can overcome that and get enough independent and Republican votes to win? I really don't think so.

I realize that demographics favor the Democratic candidate. But that is not necessarily true. A lot of members of minorities, and a lot of women don't vote. And Hillary will be a great excuse for Republicans to pull out the issues like abortion and gay marriage that divide our country but have nothing to do with core national problems.

On the other hand, a candidate like Bernie Sanders is more likely to appeal by focusing on economic issues and social injustice. The country will really benefit from a Sanders or Warren run. They will bring out the issues that are helpful to Democrats and that our country needs to deal with.

Obama's victory in 2008 was unexpected. I think the plan was that he would run, get his feet wet in a national election and run in 2016. Hillary just was not likeable and strong enough to win the nomination. If a guy like Obama with relatively little experience in the national limelight, almost no national Senate experience and relatively little understanding of a lot of the national issues could beat Hillary in 2008, Sanders or Warren could beat Hillary in 2016.

There is still a lot of time. Certain issues will begin to predominate. Probably economic issues. That's my bet, and that is why I am supporting Sanders and/or Warren. Economic issues are going to be big. Also Sanders' stance on the war is pretty close to Obamas. That is good for Sanders because we are a war-weary country, a nation that is suspicious of the motives of those among our leaders who are quick to go to war.