Concerning Bernie's electability, the way I see it, it is really simple:

[redgreenandblue]

If he can beat Hillary then he certainly is "electable".

[immoderate]

1. It's also a matter of getting votes...

If he gets enough votes, he gets elected.

--imm

[awake]

2. He most likely got More votes in Iowa so he is clearly as "electable" as Hillary

The good news is that when he get the nomination he will bring out lots of voters helping the "down ticket" Democrats

[stevenleser]

3. Horrific logic. Goldwater, Mondale, McGovern all won their primaries.

Winning a high percentage of a low percentage of the population doesn't necessarily apply to the rest of the electorate and as we have seen with far right and far left candidates, the chances are very good that it does not apply at all.

[earthside]

4. He's electable.

I was just responding on a thread about health insurance deductibles going up and how it is creating a big financial burden for my 27 year old son.

He couldn't care less about the "socialist" label -- he wants solutions. He also understands enough about politics and government to know that if it isn't proposed or argued for, that is single payer, then it will never have a chance to even be considered. So this "reality" argument is pointless to him ... Obamacare is "reality" and it is causing him only grief. And Hillary is only arguing for more of the same "reality."

If Sen. Sanders is the nominee and he stays on message (which he will) I think this fear of the "socialist" label will fall by the wayside as regular economically distressed Americans eagerly gravitate towards the candidate that wants to help them.

The Democratic Party establishment crowd just doesn't get what is going on out here in the real world -- we working and middle class folks are in trouble and we need help. "First woman president" and "reality" isn't going to cut it for us anymore; we are frustrated and not making ends meet and 1 percenter Hillary is just not an option.

[TheSocialDem]

5. If he can win independents and republicans

He is more electable than Hillary. Period. If the Dems fall in line with either candidate, which most say they will, then it come down to winning independents and open minded republicans. not to mention more dems will go for Bernie anyway.