General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Can Democrats win without Independents? [View all]denverbill
(11,489 posts)This is JUST Vermont.
Nominee Bernie Sanders John MacGovern
Party Independent Republican
Popular vote 207,848 72,898 -134,950 margin of victory
Percentage 71.0% 24.9%
Nominee Barack Obama Mitt Romney
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Illinois Massachusetts
Running mate Joe Biden Paul Ryan
Electoral vote 3 0
Popular vote 199,239 92,698 - 106,541 margin of victory
Percentage 66.57% 30.97%
Figuring Democrats vote for Democrats and Republicans vote for Republicans, this shows the progressive Independent (Sanders) winning independents resoundingly. A larger victory margin by nearly 30,000 more votes out of about 300,000 cast.
I think it's interesting the Democrats don't even run a candidate against him in Vermont because everyone knows he'll vote with Democrats the vast majority of the time.