Bernie Sanders is so hot right now [View all]

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By Chris Cillizza

Do you feel the Bernie-mentum?


Yes, of course, I am talking about the presidential candidacy of Vermont independent/socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, which he made official this week on the shores of Lake Champlain.

And, no, I am not being entirely tongue-in-cheek. The truth of the matter is that Sanders has rather quickly emerged as the leading rival -- and liberal alternative -- to the juggernaut candidacy of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Witness new polling this week from Quinnipiac University on the Democratic field; Clinton leads the way with 57 percent followed by Sanders at 15, Joe Biden at 9 and Martin O'Malley, Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee all at 1 percent. Sanders's growth from the last poll is even more eye-opening; he was at only 8 percent in an April Q poll and at just 4 percent in a March one.

Fifteen percent, of course, is still 42 points behind Clinton. Which means that Sanders remains a non-threat to seriously challenge the frontrunner for the nomination at this point. What Sanders has proven over the last month or so, however, is that O'Malley, Webb and Chafee will all have to go through him if they want to be the alternative -- liberal or otherwise -- to Clinton in the race. That status is a genuine accomplishment for Sanders and his campaign team.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/05/29/bernie-sanders-is-so-hot-right-now/