Axelrod: Sanders is 'much more appealing' than I would have imagined

[cali]

David Axelrod said that Bernie Sanders has shattered the expectations he had for him at the beginning of the race.

“He's proven himself to be a much more appealing candidate than I would have ever imagined,” Axelrod said about the Vermont senator in an interview with Washington D.C.’s WTOP radio.

The former adviser to President Barack Obama and manager of his campaigns said that Sanders, who is gaining in national polls on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, “surprised everyone.”

Sanders finished in a virtual tie with Clinton in Iowa earlier this week, and delivered a fiery debate performance on Thursday night, ahead of the New Hampshire primary. The Vermont senator has successfully put Clinton on her back foot regarding her progressive credentials, leading Clinton to punch back at Sanders as a starry-eyed populist.

“Bernie Sanders has surprised everyone,” Axelrod said. “He was known there in Washington as a kind of taciturn, irascible, loner but plainly a strong advocate for his point of view.”


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/david-axelrod-bernie-sanders-218811#ixzz3zP5MsdxG

[ElliotCarver]

1. In case you haven't heard Thom Hartmann's recent talk with Axe ...

Axe has no interest in overhauling campaign finance. Couldn't even acknowledge the true nature of the problem. Thom says, in a book about your 40 years in politics, why don't you go into the Al Frohm's "bloodless coup" of the democratic party? Crickets. Then disagreement. More than a little bit discomfiting to realize how infested the system is.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. Well, ya know, Dave,

your guy didn't come through for a lot of us, and our hope for change has turned to taciturn irascibility.

[cyberswede]

3. "but plainly a strong advocate for his point of view."

Yep - and this resonates with people. His views are clear and his message is direct. I think people find that refreshing.

[aaaaaa5a]

4. I wish he had gone to MSNBC

Instead of CNN. Democrats can't decide to not support MSNBC, and then get mad when every news station try's to be like FOX to get ratings.

[Gregorian]

5. Why didn't it surprise me? I'm not a policital advisor.

These advisers are out of touch with the real world.

[Mnpaul]

7. It surprised me

It's much more effective than I would have imagined. Bernie's straight talk + massive grassroots support and fundraising + his kick media team are making everyone take notice.

[cali]

8. It surprised me and I'm a Vermonter

[wilsonbooks]

6. No David, his success did not surprise everyone.

There were millions of us waiting for the chance to join the revolution. You would have to be an inside the beltway type person to no see this coming.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

9. YES YES YES

I have been waiting my whole life for the chance to vote for a Sanders type candidate.

[wilsonbooks]

10. Yes. I am 63 and it has been a long time coming.

We must not let this slip away. We are the revolution that we have been waiting for.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

11. A person that is a political animal did not see this coming???

I have felt it and seen it since bush the dumber was appointed.

People have just needed someone to hold the banner and lead the parade.

[Odin2005]

12. That is because you have been in the Beltway too long, David.