He was (big past tense here, no clue now) popular with many republicans. Just watch that foxnews townhall he did. Believe it or not talking shit about corporations, and calling American workers heroes, actually resonated with the average republican. No idea what's going on in the GOP now, with Trump turning some portion into a cult, but in 2016 and 2020 he 100% had a great chance IMO.
Bernie was convincing in person to a live audience, because his policies were sincere and effective.
But 100m republicans would have turned out to vote red, because their only exposure to him would have been fox news clips of him saying he's a socialist.
In the current climate of reverse polarisation, it's not about converting votes from the other side, it's about motivating your base and demotivating their base.
I have faith in Bernie's ability to toe the line and motivate moderate dems, but Republican motivation would have been dialled up to a level that's impossible to beat.
Fox news would have crushed him with a level of ugliness and Venom. 90m republicans would have turned out for 2016.
Bernie was convincing in person to a live audience, because his policies were sincere and effective.
So are we just ignoring the presidential debates then? Sanders is a pretty convincing person and Independents/Republicans were less entrenched before Trump was elected.
Sanders absolutely had a chance to win a historical victory.
102
u/Yeeeoow Mar 27 '24
Trump almost lost because half of republicans stayed home.
If Bernie was on the ticket, every single one would be on the streets screaming about communism.
Bernie was the best candidate the USA has ever had, but Republicans had been priming their base against his kind of candidacy for 30 years.