Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has drawn huge crowds recently. He packed Drake University's auditorium, drew 1,000 people in New Hampshire, and the attendance was estimated at 5,000 at a stop in Minnesota.
Sanders has indicated that the numbers have surprised him. He told NPR that he's, "Stunned. Stunned. I mean I had to fight my way to get into the room. Standing room only. Minneapolis was literally beyond belief."
Sanders isn't the only one who has been stunned. Kurt Meyer, a tri-county Democratic Party chair in Iowa, helped host a Sanders rally in his area. "When we had something in excess of 300 people show up, I was astonished," Meyer told NPR. Meyer sent a text to a one of Clinton's senior people in Iowa indicating that Sanders was potentially a lot closer to the frontrunner than he appears.
On that note it is also worth sharing that recent polls show Sanders closing the gap on Hillary quite rapidly:
A Suffolk University poll of likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire finds the former secretary of state Clinton garnering 41% of the vote. Fellow Democratic presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) is surprisingly close in second place, grabbing 31%.
"Don't underestimate the power of the progressive nerve network," David Paleologos, the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, said in a statement. "It is alive, far reaching, and it is translating into political muscle in the New Hampshire Democratic primary."
The Suffolk poll is the second of the Granite State in a matter of days that displays Clinton in vulnerable position as a front-runner. In a Morning Consult poll released last weekend, Clinton led Sanders by just 12 points.
I always feel I need to end a post like this with a qualifier saying that I don't think that Bernie Sanders has an actual chance of defeating Hillary in the primary. However it is still important to remind ourselves that his policy ideas are NOT on the fringes, and that Hillary would be well served to pay attention to that.
This post warms the cockles of my liberal heart.
ReplyDeleteMine also, too! Bernie doesn't know just how much he is loved and appreciated. He's one of the few who speaks from his heart truthfully.
DeleteYes I believe in him. Hillary not so much.
DeleteThat's what I've been asking for all along. I want the conversation.
DeleteAnd yes, 3.53. Who is she anyway? We know who Bernie is.
Don't underestimate Bernie Sanders, Hillary
ReplyDeleteEverybody thought 2008 was going to be just s coronation for her and Obama won the Iowa caucus and that was the beginning of the end.
I never took Obama seriously before Iowa. I really liked him but just didn't think he had a chance. After he won Iowa, I was all-in for Obama
All this attention is making me really give Sanders some serious thought.
Nothing wrong with competition
Like $arah always says. Deep bench. Deeeeeep bench.
I think you're undermining Bernie a bit by saying he doesn't have a chance, Gryph. As the above poster said, remember Barack Obama.
DeleteEven after Iowa, I still didn't think Obama would go on to win the nomination! Also, I was absolutely STUNNED when Obama won Iowa first. I am an Iowan. I've lived here all of my life. I just didn't hear a lot of people exciting about him here first.
I am hearing people talk about Bernie Sanders where I live though. Teachers especially seem to like him.
It should also be noted that when Bernie declared, I predicted he would be HUGE -- Obama came from an even more obscure beginning and look what happened. I also predicted Jimmy "Who?" Carter would be president and look what happened.
ReplyDeleteI have said for weeks, if not months, that Hillary is vulnerable.
She is just not fresh.
This is not a slam dunk for her. If Bernie can inspire and attract the young, like Obama did, and it looks like he is, we liberals have ourselves some traction.
Send in donations to Bernie, as small as they must be, as large as they can be. He needs to show that he can do it without PACs. We are it.
DeletePeople are responding to Bernie because he has always been an independent voice for the ordinary voter. There is nothing for an ordinary person not to like about Bernie's politics. The people turning out to see Bernie are not your usual election crowd because Bernie is not your usual politician.
ReplyDeleteI wish him continued success.
Yes, Hillary. Pay attention. You can well afford to.
ReplyDeleteOur country will lose big time if you don't.
I would like to see Bernie as president. However, if he defeats Hilary in the primaries, does he really have a decent chance to be elected in the general? I'd like to see a poll on that.
ReplyDeleteA few thousand do not a won election make...
There are more Democrats than Republicans. Do you really think Democrats would vote for Bush or Cruz or whomever the Republican nominee? If Democrats GOTV Democrats will will the election.
DeleteI'd never vote for any of the republican clowns, and while Hillary isn't bad, I'm against political dynasties. Bernie Sanders on the other hand makes a lot of sense. If Elizabeth Warren isn't running, Bernie gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with so-called dynasties (Kennedy-Kennedy-Kennedy), I have a problem with the three Bushes.
DeleteAnd speaking for myself, I would never characterize a spouse of an elected official as part of a "dynasty"--particularly when the spouse is female and females have been so under-represented in national office.
Yes !! This exactly -
ReplyDelete"it is still important to remind ourselves that his policy ideas are NOT on the fringes, and that Hillary would be well served to pay attention to that."
Well, there's the rub. Bernie believes what he is saying and has always been outspoken for the common man and lesser than. If Hillary changed her policies, it would be to get votes. Once in office, she'd be back to Hillary. I truly believe that, and I'm an independent progressive/liberal cross mix.
ReplyDeleteI love Bernie, but I think he might be too left to win in the general. And if my fellow IMer's don't think so, I have two words for you: George McGovern.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Bernie is pulling Hillary to the left and he would make a great VP choice.
Read 3:12 above Caroll.
DeleteWe don't all have to be as foolish as you choose to be. Pulling Hillary to the left is a larf. Of course Hillary will check the direction of the winds every morning during the campaign season. That means nothing at the end of the day.
Not only did I vote for McGovern, I actually thought he would win. :-)
DeleteMcGovern and Sanders are separated by 43 years and many, many, many historical differences.
DeleteSanders does have a chance.
Why the qualifiers?
ReplyDeleteWhy not just man up, listen to your conscience, and get behind the better, honest candidate?
Yeah, Gryph, I don't think you have to qualify anything you say. I've followed you for seven years now. Still here! :-)
Delete2008 Hillary was bumped out of the nomination by a younger black guy. 2016 she could be whooped by an older white guy.
ReplyDeleteI've always maintained that the reason the Democrats lost the House in 2010 and the House&Senate in 2014 is that they tried to be republicans and did not support their President. They are gutless fair weather friends.
ReplyDeleteBernie's history is a record to stand on going forward. I hope people check it out and see that he walks the talk and has worked for that. He says he only wants for US citizens what other developed countries provide! He filibustered to stop the extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Go Bernie!
ReplyDeleteLikely he won't win the primary, but he'd make a great VP in the event.
ReplyDeleteBernie Sanders reminds me, of my favorite, the late, great statesmen Mr. PET Trudeau. of Canada
ReplyDeletewhat a game changer he was...and the world is a better place because of him
I also liked Prime Minister Trudeau. I was born in Michigan, right next to the border with Canada. We received two TV channels...one from the US and the other from Canada. So, I grew up hearing Canadian politicians and the Queen of England's annual Christmas message. My favorite Canadian politician however, was Tommy Douglas of the New Democratic Party. I retrospect, I think I was influenced (for the good) by Canadian voices and ideas.
DeleteHillary dares not ignore his supporters and more importantly the issues that Sanders is bringing up, not if she wants the White House...and that's a good thing. If he can push her from center right ( her position seems ambivalent at this point) to the center at least, that would be pretty good. Even better if she goes further toward the Progressives.
ReplyDeleteM from MD
My 23 year old told me just this evening, that he is behind Bernie, all the way! I am one proud mom!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear it! I'm an independent, but Bernie is an independent in his own party, or at least not dependent on his party. I love it when younger generations get excited about candidates that aren't corporate and bankster owned, that are free to challenge the system and status quo. It gives some hope for the future.
DeleteGood for Bernie. We need him to shake things up a bit, I'd be thrilled when either of them wins!
ReplyDeleteI am supporting Bernie.
ReplyDeleteI love you Gryph, but this is one of those times I have to say Fuck You! Bernie Sanders has as much of a chance as Obama had in 2008.
ReplyDeleteIt's people like you who doubt him and continue to follow the tired media line that he can't win. You are part of the problem when you project his lack of prospects. He CAN win and has demonstrated that within his own state against all odds time and time again.
Either put your full support behind Hillary (gag) for the primary, or your candidate of choice but stop pretending to be the Charlie Brown of politics. Because it's disgusting!
If you like Bernie Sanders, you need to join the Blue Jean Nation: bluejeannation.com.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's an awesome crowd, Fantastic!! I like Hillary but Love Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Go Bernie!
ReplyDelete