What happened to Elizabeth?

[TwilightZone]

2. Health care was the #1 issue out of the midterms.

I think she believes in M4A and thought it would be a winning issue. I'm not sure it's any more complicated than that.

I do think hitching her wagon to Sanders on M4A initially was a tactical mistake. As you noted, it seemingly hasn't hurt Sanders, but I think differentiating herself from Sanders right away might have been more effective. Just a guess, though.

That being said, I'm also surprised she's not doing better. I think the conventional wisdom that she and Sanders share and are splitting the same constituency is a bit overblown, but with the two of them in the race, I don't get why anyone would pick him over her. They have similar plans, but hers are more detailed (and, frankly, more realistic). She hasn't alienated Democrats by attacking them in various forms for decades. She's infinitely more positive and at least as energetic and motivational (concepts I often hear from Sanders supporters when explaining why they support him).

Seems like a no-brainer if they were the only two options.