The following has been crossposted from the Raging Chicken Press
Yesterday, Bernie Sanders launched the first "webisode" outlining the principles of his campaign. The move by Sanders's campaign calls to mind the incredibly successful short videos released by Robert Reich which have made a significant contribution in popularizing a progressive economic analysis and making sense of mind-spinning economic policy.
Unsurprisingly, Episode 1 of the "Bernie Brief" focues on Bernie Sanders's central campaign message about income inequality and economic justice. As Sanders's continues to climb in the polls. Here's how MSNBC reported the results of the most recent polls:
Bernie Sanders has jumped out to a 9-point lead over front-runner Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, and he’s gained ground on her in Iowa in the Democratic presidential race, according to a pair of brand-new NBC News/Marist polls.
In New Hampshire, Sanders gets the support of 41% of Democratic voters, Clinton gets 32% and Vice President Joe Biden gets 16%. No other Democratic candidate receives more than 1%.
Back in July’s NBC/Marist poll, Clinton was ahead of Sanders in the Granite State by 10 points, 42% to 32%, with Biden at 12%.
Without Biden in the race, Sanders’ lead over Clinton in the current survey increases to 11 points, 49% to 38%.
In Iowa, Clinton maintains her previous advantage over Sanders – but her lead has declined from 24 points in July (49% to 25%) to 11 points (38% to 27%); Biden sits at 20%.
Writing in Salon, Zaid Jilani argued that the reason for Sanders's surge in the polls is simple:
The secret to Bernie Sanders’ campaign is actually pretty simple. His rivals in both parties often attune their plans to the interests of donors, balancing their concerns with those of the American people. Sanders isn’t doing that. He has built his campaign on the backs of small donors who represent most Americans, and he is promising them exactly what they want.
While there is a long road ahead to the Democratic party primaries and caucuses that are currently more supporting of Hillary Clinton - most notably the early primary state of South Carolina - Sanders's may just be changing the game in American politics.
Check out his first webisode here: