Could Sanders win the general election?

[hawkboy76]

Let's just suppose for a moment that for whatever reason, Hillary doesn't emerge as the Dem. nominee. Let's also suppose it's Sanders. Could he win in a general election?

Some are saying no because he's too old, he's a socialist, he doesn't have enough of a base outside of wealthy white liberals, etc.

I tend to disagree with this and think he actually could win. At worse, he probably has a built in consituency in a general election against a Republican of at least 45% (maybe higher). I also don't think the word socialist scares people like it used to. Most people probably don't really even know what it means and if Sanders runs on an even more robust entitlement society, that will appeal to a lot of people.

 

[IMCC965]

No

 

[Rifler]

Only if he were running against Donald Trump.......

 

[Huey Grey]

Against the GOP, he sure could. The better question is how the Republicans plan on winning the election? Where will they get the votes?

They have alienated Hispanics even more than in 2012 somehow. They're talking about abolishing birthright citizenship, accusing Mexicans of rape, and even supposedly Hispanic-friendly candidates like Bush are throwing around terms like, "Anchor Babies."

Additionally, they're turning off women. The GOP is going after women rights again with their attacks on Planned Parenthood. Worse, several candidates think abortion, even in the case of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life, should be outlawed.

At this point, I think the Dems could run Jared Fogle and take the White House.

 

[hawkeye54545]

I hope not. I have little faith in the American voter though. For example, Bush, Obama, Hillary and Trump

 

[ottumwan in tx]

if the guy starts imploding and saying everyone is racist and hates Obama's policies just because of the color of barry's skin, which he is currently doing, then no, he can't win dog catcher

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

He could, the Republican field is weak.

A buddy at work and I where talking last week about how insane a Trump/Sanders election would be.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

Against the GOP, he sure could. The better question is how the Republicans plan on winning the election? Where will they get the votes?

They have alienated Hispanics even more than in 2012 somehow. They're talking about abolishing birthright citizenship, accusing Mexicans of rape, and even supposedly Hispanic-friendly candidates like Bush are throwing terms like, "Anchor Babies" around.

Additionally, they're turning off women. The GOP is going after women rights again with their attacks on Planned Parenthood. Worse, several candidates think abortion, even in the case of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life, should be outlawed.

At this point, I think the Dems could run Jared Fogle and take the White House.

Hispanics don't vote

 

[ottumwan in tx]

elections are not won with votes. see 2000 election with skull and bones bush and 2008 with Obama and Hillary meeting at Bilderberg in Chantilly va

 

[INXS83]

Let's just suppose for a moment that for whatever reason, Hillary doesn't emerge as the Dem. nominee. Let's also suppose it's Sanders. Could he win in a general election?

Some are saying no because he's too old, he's a socialist, he doesn't have enough of a base outside of wealthy white liberals, etc.

I tend to disagree with this and think he actually could win. At worse, he probably has a built in consituency in a general election against a Republican of at least 45% (maybe higher). I also don't think the word socialist scares people like it used to. Most people probably don't really even know what it means and if Sanders runs on an even more robust entitlement society, that will appeal to a lot of people.

It doesn't scare you because you are a lib. It does still scare conservatives and independents. Combined, that's a majority of the voters.

 

[TennesseeWaltz1]

No...black turnout will be miniscule regardless of who the Dems run...

 

[millhawk]

What sanders says should make any sane person shudder. Good Lord with him we would be like Venezuela.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

What sanders says should make any sane person shudder. Good Lord with him we would be like Venezuela.

they will figure out how to get rid of him, hopefully not literally, but figuaratively

 

[Huey Grey]

What sanders says should make any sane person shudder. Good Lord with him we would be like Venezuela.

Why would fixing our infrastructure, educating our children, and getting big money out of politics make you shudder?

 

[22*43*51]

Why would fixing our infrastructure, educating our children, and getting big money out of politics make you shudder?

Many ways to get those good things addressed.

Bernie's version of "Trickle Down Government" isn't the way.

 

[Rifler]

Why would fixing our infrastructure, educating our children, and getting big money out of politics make you shudder?

Because I'm exactly the type of person who is going to receive the bill for meeting these promises.....

 

[TexMichFan]

He could, the Republican field is weak.

A buddy at work and I where talking last week about how insane a Trump/Sanders election would be.

Agree with you on the insane part of a Trump/Sanders contest but the debates would be a lot of fun to watch.

 

[Huey Grey]

Many ways to get those good things addressed.

Bernie's version of "Trickle Down Government" isn't the way.

Except the Republicans will never address them. They've kicked infrastructure down the road. Half the time they argue that we don't even need to be spending money on roads. Then the GOP attacks educations at every turn, arguing that our kids don't need a higher education. And finally, they Republicans cheered on even more money in politics with their Citizens United campaign.

None of these are good.

 

[jscott78]

It's plausible primarily because conservatives have rendered the word "socialist" meaningless.

Let's just suppose for a moment that for whatever reason, Hillary doesn't emerge as the Dem. nominee. Let's also suppose it's Sanders. Could he win in a general election?

Some are saying no because he's too old, he's a socialist, he doesn't have enough of a base outside of wealthy white liberals, etc.

I tend to disagree with this and think he actually could win. At worse, he probably has a built in consituency in a general election against a Republican of at least 45% (maybe higher). I also don't think the word socialist scares people like it used to. Most people probably don't really even know what it means and if Sanders runs on an even more robust entitlement society, that will appeal to a lot of people.

 

[Huey Grey]

Bernie is running as a socialist and doing very well while doing so. I'm not sure why people think this is something that will cripple a campaign anymore?

 

[22*43*51]

Except the Republicans will never address them. They've kicked infrastructure down the road. Half the time they argue that we don't even need to be spending money on roads. Then the GOP attacks educations at every turn, arguing that our kids don't need a higher education. And finally, they Republicans cheered on even more money in politics with their Citizens United campaign.

None of these are good.

How did they kick infrastructure down the road?

BHO and the Democratically held Senate were given billions for "shovel ready jobs". Where did that go? To their Wall Street masters of course.

Your education point is just emotionally charged hyperbole.

Citizen United was abhorrent and needed to be killed by the SCOTUS, but they showed they are corrupt as well.

Just as bad as the TPP bill that BHO lead the charge on.

 

[Titanhawk2]

He could, the Republican field is weak.

A buddy at work and I where talking last week about how insane a Trump/Sanders election would be.

And Sanders is "strong"?

 

[h-hawk]

This is how I see him. I lean left but think he would lose to a moderate Republican.

 

[Huey Grey]

This is how I see him. I lean left but think he would lose to a moderate Republican.

He might if there were any moderate Republicans left. They've pretty much been driven from the field.

 

[Huey Grey]

How did they kick infrastructure down the road?

BHO and the Democratically held Senate were given billions for "shovel ready jobs". Where did that go? To their Wall Street masters of course.

Your education point is just emotionally charged hyperbole.

Citizen United was abhorrent and needed to be killed by the SCOTUS, but they showed they are corrupt as well.

Just as bad as the TPP bill that BHO lead the charge on.

The Republicans just got done balking about infrastructure spending a few months ago. They were actually trying cut spending in this area.

I'm not sure how you can deny this. We see threads every few weeks or so on this very topic. Dems want easier access to higher education and the Republicans argue that higher education isn't for everybody. Couple that with the Republican attacks on teachers, their desire to privatize school loans and make interest chargeable while the student is still in school, and it does seem like the GOP has a hard on against education.

 

[22*43*51]

The Republicans just got done balking about infrastructure spending a few months ago. They were actually trying cut spending in this area.

I'm not sure how you can deny this. We see threads every few weeks or so on this very topic. Dems want easier access to higher education and the Republicans argue that higher education isn't for everybody. Couple that with the Republican attacks on teachers, their desire to privatize school loans and make interest chargeable while the student is still in school, and it does seem like the GOP has a hard on against education.

How many more TARPs and Bailouts does one administration want.

At some point you need to show some results before you ask for another blank check.

 

[Mr_Hooch]

He could, the Republican field is weak.

A buddy at work and I where talking last week about how insane a Trump/Sanders election would be.

Democrats barely have a field. I think the republican field is strong. Can't say with 15/16 people in the field that it is weak. You have governors, congressman, libertarians, businessmen, a doctor, etc while the democratic party is supporting a politician who would not be where she is if she wasn't married to Bill and the other candidate is a socialist. Republicans appear inclusive and diverse while the democrats are forcing you to chose between 2 candidates.

 

[INXS83]

Democrats barely have a field. I think the republican field is strong. Can't say with 15/16 people in the field that it is weak. You have governors, congressman, libertarians, businessmen, a doctor, etc while the democratic party is supporting a politician who would not be where she is if she wasn't married to Bill and the other candidate is a socialist. Republicans appear inclusive and diverse while the democrats are forcing you to chose between 2 candidates.

If the Biden-Warren ticket rumors come to fruition, that could completely change the race.

The Repubs need to nominate somebody who won't cause a good share of their own party and independents to turn up their nose and stay away from the polls like they did with McCain & Romney. If they could do that, who the Dems run would not make a difference. Do any of the 16 fit that bill?

 

[jaffarosenfels]

Because I'm exactly the type of person who is going to receive the bill for meeting these promises.....

Who else should get the bill?

 

[INXS83]

Who else should get the bill?

That's the problem; there will always be more bill than people like Rifler and me to pays said bills.

Please realize the U. S. monetary system borrows another million $$ every minute. Every 5 and 1/2 hours that's another $1 debt for each of the 330 million people in the country. That is unsustainable.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Democrats barely have a field. I think the republican field is strong. Can't say with 15/16 people in the field that it is weak. You have governors, congressman, libertarians, businessmen, a doctor, etc while the democratic party is supporting a politician who would not be where she is if she wasn't married to Bill and the other candidate is a socialist. Republicans appear inclusive and diverse while the democrats are forcing you to chose between 2 candidates.

None of the candidates that have a reasonable chance at winning the primary are even somewhat likeable/electable.

Seriously. . . Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz? The couple electable people in there have no name recognition and are extremely unlikely to win the primary.

Sanders is going to have a tough time beating Hilary but if he did it's unlikely that he would face someone he couldn't beat.

 

[moral_victory]

I have found Bernie to be an easy sell to people I know. Hell most people I convert even become enthusiastic. The guy would destroy it in the general against any of the current GOP field.

If the Biden-Warren ticket rumors come to fruition, that could completely change the race.

Why would Warren team with Biden over Sanders? That would be a curious move.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I lean left but think he would lose to a moderate Republican.

Yeah, but the GOP won't nominate a moderate.

Who are the moderates in the field now? Are there any? What about them makes them moderate?

 

[22*43*51]

Everyone look moderate next to Trump.

That's the RNC plan.

 

[moral_victory]

Everyone look moderate next to Trump.

That's the RNC plan.

Then why are most of them falling in line with Trump?

Yeah, but the GOP won't nominate a moderate.

Who are the moderates in the field now? Are there any? What about them makes them moderate?

They had Huntsman last go around, and he got pushed out quickly.

 

[Pepperman]

Bernie is running as a socialist and doing very well while doing so. I'm not sure why people think this is something that will cripple a campaign anymore?

You're sort of not correct about this, though... Remember the difference between trying to win your party's nomination (be as lunatic as possible) and then trying to win a general election (be as centrist as possible). So it shouldn't surprise anybody that he's doing well in the primary so far. The general will (perhaps would) be a different story. But I am also just about 100% sure the Democrats will win this election no matter who they run.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Then why are most of them falling in line with Trump?



They had Huntsman last go around, and he got pushed out quickly.

Right. And he wasn't that moderate. Flat taxer, for example. He just wasn't an idiot about things like climate change and diplomacy. Which means he was waaaay too liberal for the GOP.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

Because I'm exactly the type of person who is going to receive the bill for meeting these promises.....

To conclude your post...

"that someone else made in an effort to get elected."

 

[lucas80]

No

An insightful and concise response. For once we are in complete agreement.

 

[Speedway1]

Against the GOP, he sure could. The better question is how the Republicans plan on winning the election? Where will they get the votes?

They have alienated Hispanics even more than in 2012 somehow. They're talking about abolishing birthright citizenship, accusing Mexicans of rape, and even supposedly Hispanic-friendly candidates like Bush are throwing around terms like, "Anchor Babies."

Additionally, they're turning off women. The GOP is going after women rights again with their attacks on Planned Parenthood. Worse, several candidates think abortion, even in the case of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life, should be outlawed.

At this point, I think the Dems could run Jared Fogle and take the White House.

Really???? You say a lot of over the top crazy crap. But I am pretty sure an R will be the next POTUS. But good luck.