How Bernie Sanders hangs in [View all]

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

Most of all, on de-industrialization, trade and the hollowing out of the great American heartland by globalism, Mr. Sanders touches a deep nerve, as Donald Trump did. He is in a position to take on Mr. Trump on this issue, which Mr. Sanders will argue is his issue. Let’s think about those counties that flipped to Mr. Trump in 2016 again, and the people who are sending Mr. Sanders $18 checks. Bernie Sanders seems to grasp why Donald Trump won in 2016. He actually talks about our devastated American towns and the link between rural poverty and urban poverty — the first politician since Robert Kennedy to do so.

I am not sure most of his Democratic primary colleagues know there is rural and small-town poverty. But many Americans do. They get it because they have lived it. They see that their economy was exported. They see how communities and families were destroyed. And they never voted for this. They never voted to make Europe, or China, or Brazil rich and rural Ohio or Pennsylvania poor. They never voted for an economy of despair. They want a Marshall Plan for the American heartland.

So Bernie has not only a solid and loyal base but also the ability to grow his base because he has touched on something deep and real: Wall Street and average 401(k) holders may get richer, but small town America continues to atrophy.

(snip)

That brings me to something else that Democrats may be sensing: It will be very hard for Donald Trump to get under Bernie Sanders’ skin, or intimidate him in debates. Mr. Sanders is an uncoached, unprogrammed politician who knows what he thinks and why. He seems pretty fearless and at ease with himself. And that may intimidate Donald Trump.


https://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/keithburris/2020/01/05/how-bernie-sanders-hangs-in-2020-election-democratic-primary-commentary/stories/20200105038