Whatever tonite's outcome, Sanders comes out proven as a competitor

The Iowa caucus is by design and function a test bed. The consequences of a win or a second place are often much the same, and in a year when the candidates are tied going in, the difference between first and 2nd is going to be marginal.

But, Sanders will finally have shown as recorded in tomorrows news ink that Clinton isn't inevitable, that money can be raised without bundlers, superpacs or oligarchs, that huge amounts of spending don't guarantee huge wins, and that ground games really can be organized in a matter of months. Moreover, being rescued by infusions of Soros millions makes the opposition candidate seem more beholden to oligarchs than ever. What once would have been seen as the opponent's advantage in access to money, is now a weakness. Talk about beating an opponent on their strength!

While everyone has believed that Clinton campaign had an advantage via control of the existing democratic infrastructure, that infrastructure has proven to provide but little advantage.

While the media has done no favors for Sanders via it' seemingly purposeful denial of the Sanders campaign. Sanders has, none the less, found mechanisms to make his existence known and to move his message into public knowledge. After tonite there will no longer be "Who is that Bernie Sanders guy, never heard of him".

Sanders campaign has gotten through it's real-life experience and done so in a manner that is competitive. In the primary season nothing builds success like success, and nothing looks more like success than beating expectations, and nothing leaves a candidate as naked to the elements as missing expectations. The opposition now stands before the nation without the cloak of inevitability exposed to a more and more populist atmosphere. Her 'wardrobe' requires quick application of rhetorical accessories to have even a hint of prevailing fashion.

Sanders has done it with much less media, spending vastly less money, and without changing message or faking an accent to connect with an audience. Moreover, Sanders team gets to go forward without worrying about chronic unresolved vibrations, hinting that continuing problems with emails and quid pro quo are present which have been brought into a campaign from previously held offices.

It's pretty clear he's competitive and going to run near the top of future primaries and caucuses.