I’ve been citing anecdotal information based on my own experiences and observations for a while here. It’s nice to find today that there is growing evidence that people across the political spectrum ranging from moderate to very far left are all finding something to like about Bernie Sanders. Now, Clare Foran, writing for the Atlantic, documents a growing movement of Republicans who are ready to vote for Bernie Sanders or are seriously considering it.
As I suspected much of it comes from hating corruption in Washington, too much money in the election process, or anger against the big banks. Also they like his fiery non-nonsense attitude and his authenticity. Most do not like the Republican offerings for president at all, be they party supported or crazy outsider insurgents.
If he is giving a voice to moderate conservatives and people further to the left of most of us here, then can a surge of Independent votes be far behind? This is someone who has spent his career as an Independent and also presents a shining example of FDR New Deal style Democratic party principals to those in this party he is running for. It leaves me no doubt that in time as more liberal moderates start seeing what so many progressives are pleased as punch about in Bernie, and growing evidence that he can do better in the general elections head to head against Republicans better than Hillary will be able to, he may find enough of a groundswell from all quarters to increase the number of voters we can expect to come out for the primaries. And perhaps beat Mrs. Clinton and the party mechanizations which might otherwise keep him from becoming the Democratic nominee.
Should that happen, we are likely to go forward with many more voters than we may now expect on to the general. And perhaps some of those on that other side who might not vote for Bernie but like Trump, or Carson, or Cruz because of their independence from party politics may be willing to sit it out as their candidates fail, and see if Bernie can come up the winner. As I’ve been saying here for a while, if enough people go all in for Bernie we will have the one opportunity we have in 2016 to bring another wave election for our side to Washington, to the Congress, and State houses everywhere. He represents the only hope we have for a win like that.