that he worried much about this either way.

It's about America, it's about the corporate takeover that has corrupted every level. Bernie has spent his entire life fighting for regular and poor people. He doesn't need to adopt policy after it's poll tested, he doesn't need to hide unpopular positions from voters, he doesn't duck questions from the media.
Bernie is the candidate who actually stands for all the things this country is hungry for. We are sick of poll tested messaging and triangulation.
If she is hurt by the Senators candidacy, it's because of her posture on everything.
#ItsThePolicyStupid

I see Sanders' candidacy as one that is issue driven. It's not about Bernie, it never has been about him. This country must move in a different direction than we've been on and I believe Sanders has the ideas and commitment to them to be the catalyst for real change.

America cares about and that's why you're starting to see and hear his name everywhere. People want opportunity and they know they've been sold down the river. Bernie acknowledges those feelings and facts - and talks about how we could do better (less costly or even free college, nation-wide job programs to work on infrastructure, putting people to work). Even here in Houston we've taken a big hit recently with a lot of oil company job losses. Without debating the need to move to renewable energy, those people are sitting without jobs wondering what's next. Bernie talking about putting Americans back to work is resonating with people who feel they've been left behind.

Hillary may want to "level the playing field" but that is not what Americans want. They just want to be back to work.

Bernie is not running to "help" Hillary. He is running on the issues that people are concerned about.

But, if for some reason Bernie does not win the nomination and Hillary wins, Bernie's popularity will unintentionally help Hillary, in my opinion.

Sure Berie's running because he loves America and cares very strongly about wealth inequality. but if HRC wins the nomination and focuses her campaign more on that issue than had she not had an opponent to her left in the primary, Bernie will have done America a service.

Everything isn't always about Hillary.

This is Andrea Mitchell style of relating everything to Hillary when speaking to Bernie.

Bernie has the most important issues to talk about, some of which lie in opposition to what we believe Hillary believes - how on earth is that an attack? This is another sign that anyone who opposes Hillary in any way is an enemy before considering this is a primary process where we get to choose our candidates by what their stands are and what they say but some really think Bernie should just lay down and give up because Hillary.

Bernie is running for president.

His campaign has nothing to do with Hillary.

I don't care if he harms Hillary pointing out the facts and the differences

between them.

Hillary is parroting Bernie, not the other way around.

Bernie has been saying these things for 25 years.

Hillary has not.

Hillary is disingenuous, nothing will change that.

She can not be trusted.

= You want the GOP to win, IMHO. Oh well.

not Sanders contrasting the differences between them.

then Bernie can win.

Bernie will not use dirty tactics.

If the truth takes down Hillary that is a good thing.

that seems to be a rather cynical and dicey platform. And it probably won't carry over to the GE very well.

Cynical, maybe, but can you argue with the logic?

This is the real world. We can't let supposedly great be the enemy of good. It's all about the lessor of evils.

If by some miracle, Bernie wins the nomination, I'll vote for him, but it's more important to block the GOP to me. Oh well.

I am supporting Bernie 100%.

By turning the conversation to the left and helping stake out popular progressive issues that candidates can champion.

What I was worried about was the guy who was to the right of Hillary (can't remember his name) jumping in and pulling the conversation to the right with a lot of media and right wing help. That isn't going to happen now. Especially since Bernie will clobber any one taking right wing positions and show the only real opposition to HRC (who I will support IF she gets the nomination) is to the left. That might even work out better.

And the opposition cannot claim Hillary is a "leftist" so long as Bernie is in the race.

First, I agree with those who say that this isn't why Bernie is running. It's still relevant for us to ask the question, though.

Many of us on DU oppose Clinton because she's too far to the right. We know, however, that any Democratic nominee will be attacked by the Republicans as too far to the left. In fact, if Clinton is the nominee, they'll call her a socialist, just as they did Obama (laughable in both cases, but there it is).

Sanders's run has one general effect, win or lose, of taking the bite out of "socialist" as an attack term. In the specific case of 2016, any non-Sanders nominee can truthfully point out, "You call me a socialist? To get this nomination, I beat a Socialist." If Clinton or anyone else has been in a bunch of debates in which Sanders criticizes her as being too conservative, then that's helpful in the general election, when a lot of nonideological voters have a tendency to like the candidate who seems "moderate" (i.e. centrist). Seeing Walker on the right and Sanders on the left will make these voters more likely to vote for a Democratic nominee who's in the middle.

Because no one can say she wasn't challenged from the left.

of a popularity contest, in my view - that is what politics has become - but welcome to the age of Facebook and likes and American Idol. So silly.

They don't seem to have a memory of what they said during campaigns once they take office. Or has been pointed out to me, by neoliberals, I am too dirt stupid to understand what they "actually meant" when they appear to be doing the exact opposite once in office, of what it was they "claimed to stand for" when asking for my support and vote.

I'll be putting on my comfortable shoes and marching to a different drummer.

Bernie principles and ideology match my own, AND I think he'll stick to them if he makes it to the WH. Ergo I'll support him until he drops out.

As he keeps repeating, it's not about Sanders or Clinton, it's about the people.

nominee in the GE.

Her play it safe, fence sitting, refuse to take a position, focus group tested BS is going to look wimpy and mealy mouthed next to the clear positions taken on most issues by Sen Sanders.

She's making herself look very unpresidential which helps him by contrast.

She changes her position based on polls and whatever her staffers think is going to give her the best chance to win. Therefore she can't afford to commit herself on issues.

I always find it incredibly hard to vote for that kind of candidate. They care more about their career than doing what they feel inside is right thing to do.