2016 Postmortem

portlander23

(2,078 posts) Sat Oct 10, 2015, 04:12 PM Oct 2015

138

Sally Kohn: It now looks like Bernie Sanders could also actually win

Recently, I was in Des Moines, Iowa, for a meeting of the populist farmers organization Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. I was there to help the group celebrate its 40th anniversary and to talk about the issues it works on, including environmental regulation, farm policy and immigration reform.

But all the members wanted to talk about was Bernie Sanders.

They don't seem all that unique among Democratic voters or voters in general in Iowa. One poll in mid-September found Sanders with a 10-point lead over Hillary Clinton among likely Democratic primary voters. And a newer poll finds that Sanders fares better than Clinton even in general election matchups against possible GOP contenders.

Clinton's ace-in-the-hole in the face of Sanders' populist challenge was always supposed to be her better shot at electability. But even that seems to be eroding. As the saying goes, voters of all stripes increasingly "Feel the Bern."

Still, he's done more than simply move Hillary Clinton to the left, which was the original conventional wisdom about his candidacy. It now looks like Bernie Sanders could also actually win.

38 replies

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Highlight:

Sally Kohn: It now looks like Bernie Sanders could also actually win (Original Post) portlander23 Oct 2015 OP

When We Stand Together - No Citizen Need Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go cantbeserious Oct 2015 #1

can'tbeserious, I love your posts. You have a very bernie-esque roguevalley Oct 2015 #7

Thank You - Please Share Widely - We Have The Power - Let Us Exercise Our Courage cantbeserious Oct 2015 #9

agreed.I have a big round magnet for the back of my car. LOVE it. :D roguevalley Oct 2015 #13

no, no, no. Didn't you get the memo? Bernie is "unelectable". nt antigop Oct 2015 #2

"Vast majority of Americans favor Sanders' idea of "democratic socialism" Divernan Oct 2015 #3

Repeat: "92% of Americans preferred the wealth distribution of Sweden" mak3cats Oct 2015 #5

"Could" = the ultimate hedge word Sliceo Oct 2015 #4

In October 2015, what else could one say? arcane1 Oct 2015 #6

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2015 #17

Then I'm an Idiot Demeter Oct 2015 #18

And all the Hillary supporters who say "can't win the general" are wrong. cui bono Oct 2015 #16

But wait... INdemo Oct 2015 #8

If you believe this, place your bets with the Irish bookies Gothmog Oct 2015 #10

Well, the people want him. I'm not sure what people want matters these days. nt valerief Oct 2015 #11

Wonder what TPTB have cooked up insuring that doesn't happen. SammyWinstonJack Oct 2015 #20

I just hope it doesn't involve bullets or airplanes. nt valerief Oct 2015 #37

Perhaps if.. DCBob Oct 2015 #12

Yes some ared banking on Wall Street money pulling it out for HRC. Funny how some "Democrats" rhett o rick Oct 2015 #14

Rather sickening, if you ask me. SammyWinstonJack Oct 2015 #21

I won't go so far as saying those that are ok with the 16 million American children have no rhett o rick Oct 2015 #27

Yes he can! cui bono Oct 2015 #15

He's so far behind her in polls, that statement is absurd treestar Oct 2015 #19

Hey we are talking rainbows and unicorns here workinclasszero Oct 2015 #22

No kidding treestar Oct 2015 #32

IKR? That Internet poll proves Bernie mania workinclasszero Oct 2015 #38

wonder what she is smoking? riversedge Oct 2015 #23

I don't know but I want some. leftofcool Oct 2015 #30

is it legal yet in Iowa? treestar Oct 2015 #33

. 99th_Monkey Oct 2015 #24

There ya go. Polling elections accurately is pretty much impossible now and in_cog_ni_to Oct 2015 #29

It's weird 99th_Monkey Oct 2015 #31

So they are closing down ? treestar Oct 2015 #35

LOL treestar Oct 2015 #34

The Bern is on the move. Glad you're not very concerned at all about it. -nt- 99th_Monkey Oct 2015 #36

You are months late with that statement. Live and Learn Oct 2015 #28

Feel. The. BERN!!! AzDar Oct 2015 #25

"Still, he's done more than simply move Hillary Clinton to the left" LiberalLovinLug Oct 2015 #26

cantbeserious

(13,039 posts)

1. When We Stand Together - No Citizen Need Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 05:43 PM

Oct 2015

eom

roguevalley

(40,656 posts)

7. can'tbeserious, I love your posts. You have a very bernie-esque

Reply to cantbeserious (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:15 PM

Oct 2015

laser focus on the end game.

cantbeserious

(13,039 posts)

9. Thank You - Please Share Widely - We Have The Power - Let Us Exercise Our Courage

Reply to roguevalley (Reply #7)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:30 PM

Oct 2015

eom

roguevalley

(40,656 posts)

13. agreed.I have a big round magnet for the back of my car. LOVE it. :D

Reply to cantbeserious (Reply #9)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 07:01 PM

Oct 2015

antigop

(12,778 posts)

2. no, no, no. Didn't you get the memo? Bernie is "unelectable". nt

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 05:56 PM

Oct 2015

Divernan

(15,480 posts)

3. "Vast majority of Americans favor Sanders' idea of "democratic socialism"

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 05:57 PM

Oct 2015

More from the OP link to the CNN article: Story highlights

Sally Kohn: Hillary's time on the public radar may be hurting her chances in presidential race.
Kohn: Vast majority of Americans favor Sanders' idea of "democratic socialism"

But Bernie Sanders is a socialist! No one would elect a socialist president, right? Not necessarily. This past June, Gallop found that almost half of Americans say they would vote for a socialist to be president. Plus once Americans learn more about what Sanders brand of socialism looks like, they may like him even more.

Sanders isn't for state-owned industry or anything in that extreme. Rather, he says, "What am I trying to do in this campaign is to tell Americans what many of them don't know: that the benefits for working people are a lot, lot stronger in many other countries around the world."

Sanders embraces the "democratic socialism" practiced in Scandinavia, for instance, where the government guarantees paid sick leave, universal health care and free higher education. Think Americans won't go for that? Well actually, when social scientists polled Americans across political perspectives about whether they preferred the unequal income distribution at play in the United States (where the top 20% control 84% of the wealth) of a supposedly-hypothetical, infinitely more equal distribution that actually mirrored Sweden's, guess what -- 92% of Americans preferred the wealth distribution of Sweden.

Sanders is showing he can really connect with voters across the board and articulate a populist vision that is sorely needed in America today.

mak3cats

(1,573 posts)

5. Repeat: "92% of Americans preferred the wealth distribution of Sweden"

Reply to Divernan (Reply #3)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:04 PM

Oct 2015

That translates to a lot of crossover appeal. Unelectable? I think not.

Sliceo

(39 posts)

4. "Could" = the ultimate hedge word

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 05:58 PM

Oct 2015

Because she can't be wrong if he loses. Because she said "could".

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

6. In October 2015, what else could one say?

Reply to Sliceo (Reply #4)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:09 PM

Oct 2015

Only an idiot would say "will" this early in the game.

Response to arcane1 (Reply #6)

Name removed Message auto-removed

Demeter

(85,373 posts)

18. Then I'm an Idiot

Reply to arcane1 (Reply #6)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 08:47 AM

Oct 2015

and you may quote me.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)

16. And all the Hillary supporters who say "can't win the general" are wrong.

Reply to Sliceo (Reply #4)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 02:31 AM

Oct 2015

And if they want to prove me wrong for saying that, they'll have to vote him in in the primary to find out.

INdemo

(6,994 posts)

8. But wait...

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:24 PM

Oct 2015

Tomorrow there will be a poll out that has 50 or so voters surveyed by a College newspaper in Your Favorite Town to suggest

that Hillary is leading by 40%. Sol lets not take this article too serious.

Gothmog

(144,919 posts)

10. If you believe this, place your bets with the Irish bookies

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:44 PM

Oct 2015

You will get great odds. The betting world, Nate Silver, Predictwise and other experts are not convinced

valerief

(53,235 posts)

11. Well, the people want him. I'm not sure what people want matters these days. nt

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:50 PM

Oct 2015

SammyWinstonJack

(44,129 posts)

20. Wonder what TPTB have cooked up insuring that doesn't happen.

Reply to valerief (Reply #11)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:06 PM

Oct 2015

valerief

(53,235 posts)

37. I just hope it doesn't involve bullets or airplanes. nt

Reply to SammyWinstonJack (Reply #20)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 05:01 PM

Oct 2015

DCBob

(24,689 posts)

12. Perhaps if..

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 06:56 PM

Oct 2015

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)

14. Yes some ared banking on Wall Street money pulling it out for HRC. Funny how some "Democrats"

Reply to DCBob (Reply #12)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:01 PM

Oct 2015

choose Wall Street over the 99%.

SammyWinstonJack

(44,129 posts)

21. Rather sickening, if you ask me.

Reply to rhett o rick (Reply #14)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:10 PM

Oct 2015

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)

27. I won't go so far as saying those that are ok with the 16 million American children have no

Reply to SammyWinstonJack (Reply #21)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 02:01 PM

Oct 2015

compassion, I will say they are in denial. I should be obvious that the banksters and billionaires want control of the WH. I hope no one tries to deny that. And who have they chosen as their favorite candidate? Mr. Goldman-Sachs was unabashed when he said they would welcome either Bush or Clinton as president. One would think that that would be a huge red flag.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)

15. Yes he can!

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 02:29 AM

Oct 2015

treestar

(82,383 posts)

19. He's so far behind her in polls, that statement is absurd

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 09:17 AM

Oct 2015

So much wishful thinking.

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)

22. Hey we are talking rainbows and unicorns here

Reply to treestar (Reply #19)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:10 PM

Oct 2015

who needs polls?

They can be unskewed you know?

treestar

(82,383 posts)

32. No kidding

Reply to workinclasszero (Reply #22)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 04:19 PM

Oct 2015

Bernie is winning is all 50 states, doncha know?

Except he is not. Oh, that.

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)

38. IKR? That Internet poll proves Bernie mania

Reply to treestar (Reply #32)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 09:30 PM

Oct 2015

Is sweeping the nation and he will not only get the dem nomination he will win all 50 states! Yippee!

I guess Hillary should just step aside for Bernie right nao!

riversedge

(70,084 posts)

23. wonder what she is smoking?

Reply to treestar (Reply #19)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:13 PM

Oct 2015

leftofcool

(19,460 posts)

30. I don't know but I want some.

Reply to riversedge (Reply #23)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 03:35 PM

Oct 2015

treestar

(82,383 posts)

33. is it legal yet in Iowa?

Reply to riversedge (Reply #23)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 04:20 PM

Oct 2015

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)

24. .

Reply to treestar (Reply #19)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:24 PM

Oct 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/opinion/sunday/whats-the-matter-with-polling.html?_r=0

in_cog_ni_to

(41,600 posts)

29. There ya go. Polling elections accurately is pretty much impossible now and

Reply to 99th_Monkey (Reply #24)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 03:19 PM

Oct 2015

Pollsters know it.

I would start paying closer attention to those Bernie crowds - that seem to be meaningless to some.

Probably a more accurate predictor of the election outcome.

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)

31. It's weird

Reply to in_cog_ni_to (Reply #29)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 04:19 PM

Oct 2015

because so much is still decided based on poll numbers, like who can
be (or not be) in the debates, etc. Go figure.

treestar

(82,383 posts)

35. So they are closing down ?

Reply to in_cog_ni_to (Reply #29)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 04:22 PM

Oct 2015

Why should they bother?

treestar

(82,383 posts)

34. LOL

Reply to 99th_Monkey (Reply #24)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 04:22 PM

Oct 2015

Maybe less accurate, but not on the scale you need to say Bernie is really winning when the polls show he is far behind.

Same old excuses, yet they seem to pretty much predict.

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)

36. The Bern is on the move. Glad you're not very concerned at all about it. -nt-

Reply to treestar (Reply #34)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 04:41 PM

Oct 2015

Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)

28. You are months late with that statement.

Reply to treestar (Reply #19)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 02:53 PM

Oct 2015

Where ever Bernie campaigns his polling numbers are closing in or surpassing hers. Feel The Bern!

AzDar

(14,023 posts)

25. Feel. The. BERN!!!

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:37 PM

Oct 2015

LiberalLovinLug

(14,164 posts)

26. "Still, he's done more than simply move Hillary Clinton to the left"

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:45 PM

Oct 2015

"...which was the original conventional wisdom about his candidacy. It now looks like Bernie Sanders could also actually win."

I may have to change my signature!

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