Here is some evidence of Bernie's cross over appeal to GOP voters:

[Admiral Loinpresser]

In 2012, Bernie & President Obama were on the same ballot in Vermont. The exit polls show Bernie and Obama captured very similar numbers in liberal and moderate segments and in Democratic/independent segments. But in conservative and Republican segments, Bernie did much better than Obama. Bernie got 35% to his opponents 59% among conservatives and 27% to 71% among Republicans. Obama got 18% among conservatives and only 11% of GOP voters, less than half of Bernie's 27%.

Bernie's name recognition has barely passed 50%, so national polls will not be reliable yet, but this 2012 data certainly rings true with the anecdotes I am hearing about his 2015 cross over appeal.

If you check out the links you will have to scroll down quite a ways to get the pertinent data.

Bernie's Vermont ballot data:

http://elections.nbcnews.com/ns/politics/2012/vermont/senate/#.VZrdRVKulv8

Obama's Vermont ballot data

http://elections.nbcnews.com/ns/politics/2012/vermont/president/#.VZreBFKulv8

[Kalidurga]

1. Well if you take away the rabid lunatics on the RW side

and pin them down on what taxes should pay for, you are going to get a lot of agreement then it comes down to how it gets paid for like specific taxes and fees and how much money that those programs like education are going to get.

Almost everyone wants the same things good education, to be able to feed their families, safe housing, etc...So we have more in common than we don't.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

5. +1 n/t

[scscholar]

2. This sucks

We shouldn't pander to their kind.

[smokey nj]

3. Who's pandering?

[scscholar]

27. Sorry, if I'm not using the right word

Would adjusting be better? Adjusting the language he is using to get more support?

[Admiral Loinpresser]

4. Hillary's national negatives have been built up over decades.

Her crossover appeal in purple states is probably negligible. The point is that RW populists can respond to Bernie's message. He doesn't need to pander.

And Bernie's cross over appeal could be an asset in purple states in the general election, imo. Bernie is like Dean and the 50 state strategy. We should unapologetically carry our message to anybody in the 99% who is receptive. I believe Bernie will do better than anyone in pulling voters from all demographics in the general election. One more aspect of the revolution in my view.

[AllyCat]

12. Hear, hear! What he says is true for everyone

except the rich. They may not admit if he has piqued their interest.

[hootinholler]

8. Welcome to DU

The thing is I have seen zero evidence of Bernie pandering to anyone.

So if you can provide that, I'll consider your viewpoint.

[scscholar]

11. Maybe pandering is the wrong word...

but changing your message to appeal to crossover Republicans is what I would call pandering. Maybe you have another word for it with a less negative connotation.

[AllyCat]

14. I think you have missed the point of the OP

He ISN'T pandering. He doesn't need to. His message hits the core of the struggle in the middle class and poor, Dem, Rep, or otherwise.

[Ed Suspicious]

15. That is a fair definition of pandering. That is in no way what Bernie Sanders has done.

[hootinholler]

16. You have the definition correct

The assertion of his behavior not so much. That's the thing about Bernie, he's different than other candidates.

I'm not aware of Bernie changing *any* message to appeal to anyone. If you can provide evidence of that, please do, otherwise I suggest you at least reconsider your position.

You are posting in a safe haven for Bernie supporters and we don't tolerate poo flinging.

[smokey nj]

17. If you were at all familiar with Bernie Sanders, you would

know he doesn't do that.

[chknltl]

10. What sucks? Pander to which 'kind'?

Looking forward to your reply. Welcome To DU

[abakan]

20. If they are voting for our candidate.

It can't be pandering. More like expanding the base.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

23. Welcome to DU! n/t

[RufusTFirefly]

24. There are definitely panderers in this campaign. But Bernie ain't one of them.

The truth is that many of his policies appeal to anyone who isn't filthy rich (or woefully misinformed). Lots of people left and right want to raise the minimum wage, close the income gap, make health care a right not a privilege, make public colleges free, and do something decisive to address climate change.

[swilton]

6. UNSTOPPABLE

Ralph Nader's 2014 celebration of 'southern agrarians' cites many instances where liberals and conservatives (at least theoretically) should work together. Some of the issues he names include corporate regulation, income distribution, auditing the Pentagon, protecting the commons -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/book-review-unstoppable-by-ralph-nader-on-building-a-left-right-alliance/2014/05/30/08587b08-e11e-11e3-8dcc-d6b7fede081a_story.html

[hootinholler]

7. I have always believed there would be Sanders Republicans

He doesn't need to change his message at all to get them.

Edit to add: The kookier the clown car gets the more Bernie will pick up. Those people would never vote for Hillary.

Bernie is by far the better candidate for the general.

[chknltl]

19. Wow, I hadn't thought of it from that angle till just now!

I think it should be added that many Fox viewers may very well just 'sit this one out' should their choices be between someone from the current Republican hopefuls vs Bernie Sanders. Should Clinton get the nomination Fox has all but ensured with their propaganda that the Republican base will turn out in droves just to vote against her.

If Bernie Sanders can make inroads among those who normally vote for Republicans then...well...then the citizens revolution is indeed in the air across our lands, just as Bernie predicted!

[hootinholler]

25. A minor point

Bernie didn't predict a revolution, he said quite plainly, it will take one so let's start one together.

[chknltl]

26. Perhaps I heard him wrong....

There is no way I could quote what I recall but in the weeks shortly prior to Senator Sanders' throwing his hat in the ring, when a substantial number of callers* were urging him to actually run, he informed us that running for President was a very serious matter, that the only way he would run is if he felt that he could win. I further thought that he said that in order for him to win, it would take a political revolution, that he had teams out to see if such a revolution was viable at this time. (Again, these weren't his exact words but the content is what I recall).

I am fairly sure that I have heard him say that our country is ready for a political revolution at least once during that show as well. Does this add up to saying that he predicted an actual political revolution is at hand? OK, yeah it's a minor point, technically I do not remember him saying this.

*(by callers I refer to callers into the 'Brunch With Bernie' hour on The Thom Hartmann program)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. Independents?

[Admiral Loinpresser]

22. Obama 69, Bernie 71 n/t

[silvershadow]

13. The doubters need only check my FB feed. He has crossover appeal. nt

[Ed Suspicious]

18. He sure does crossover. It makes for some uncomfortable Facebook exchanges. Sometimes

the stuff the Republicans post there can be pretty vile, but Bernie has hit the heart of the issue for so many American's regardless of political stripes. The issue that he crosses over most well on is integrity of elections (who wouldn't want the except an oligarchic status quo?). Add to that the perception that he says what he means and means what he says. I think he's naturally where he might need to be for broad appeal on the gun issue, but mostly he's just a guy seeking to return our government to the people.

[frylock]

21. I don't think the doubters have FB accounts..

either that, or they aren't admitting to it. I have asked several vocal supporters of Clinton here if they get on FB, and what do they think of Sanders' presence there. I get nothing but crickets.

[sabrina 1]

28. Bernie definitely has crossover appeal. I have been reading across the internet and seeing comments

from Republicans saying things like 'this guy is honest, I don't agree with him on a lot of issues, but he's right on the money in politics etc. and then go on to say that they just might vote for him because 'we need some honesty in this government, you have to respect that'.

People do respect honesty.

All the talking we are seeing are very bad, for Hillary. They are failing miserably to do Bernie any harm, which is why I am not bothered by them. Just use them to talk about Bernie.

I notice that Hillary supporters do not talk about Hillary, where she stands on issues etc, they talk about Bernie. That's a bad sign when you have a candidate but you don't promote YOUR candidate. You attack other candidates.

It sure isn't stopping Bernie at all and from what I'm seeing and hearing it is causing people to be angry at Hillary, which may not be fair, but supporters behavior reflects on the candidate.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

29. Do we really

want to nominate someone whose negatives are close to 50% when she has virtually no cross over appeal? Some Hillary boosters say our reporting of pro-Bernie attitudes among populist Republicans is "anecdotal" but many of us, as you say, are encountering it. This is the basis for a real revolution.