Republican strategist Dave Carney: Bernie's energy could pose bigger threat to the GOP than Hillary

[Miles Archer]

Why One Republican Strategist Fears Bernie More Than Hillary

Bernie "would bring new energy to the general election" that would be a big threat to the GOP, he said.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/republican-strategist-bernie-sanders-clinton_us_56bbafb3e4b0c3c5504ff6c7

In a conversation with Santa Monica public radio's KCRW on Wednesday, Republican strategist Dave Carney speculated that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) could pose a bigger threat to the GOP in the general election than Hillary Clinton would.

Sanders has tapped into a powerful populist anger (as has Trump), and that sentiment isn't easy for opposing candidates to overcome, Carney said.

"Bernie does the exact same thing that Trump does on the different side of the coin," Carney argued. "They talk about this economic disconnect between the elites and the rest of us ... and they have different proscriptions for fixing that, but it’s the same anger, the same concern."

Carney said that while Sanders' self-description as a "democratic socialist" might alienate some people, it ultimately becomes irrelevant once voters enter the voting booth.

[PonyUp]

1. Repugs I have talked to all want Hillary to win the primary.

They say that people will come out of the woodwork like termites to vote against her, no matter who is on the other side.

[disillusioned73]

3. I get the same sense..

here in red country PA.. They don't care who the R nominee is as long as Hillary is nominated - they will come out in droves, especially women towards the right.. that is a fact.. Their campaign is already written for them if she is the nominee and unfortunately for the Clintons the damage has already been done..

Bernie really scares them, my boss (a hard righty) was amused by Bernie originally - now I sense real concern.. I think they learned a lesson to not take the alternative challenger in a primary race lightly (2008)

[Qutzupalotl]

2. Especially if the GOP nominates an actual billionaire.

Hard to ignore that contrast!