Bernie Sanders Lays Down 2016’s New Electoral Math

[Demeter]

“I think you’re looking at the candidate who can substantially increase voter turnout all across the country.”

I THINK SO, TOO! DEMETER

http://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-explains-the-new-math-of-2016-to-democratic-leaders/

Democratic candidates for president flew to the Twin Cities last week to make their pitches to members of the Democratic National Committee. They did not come to debate—a missed opportunity highlighted by Martin O’Malley in a fiery speech decrying the DNC’s constricted debate schedule—but to sell themselves to the men and women who devote their waking hours to figuring out how to elect Democrats.

For Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner and a veteran of DNC gatherings going back to the 1970s, the point of the visit was to reinforce traditional understandings of electability.

For Bernie Sanders, a longtime independent who has emerged as Clinton’s most serious challenger for the party’s 2016 nod, the point was to expand the understanding of who is and who might be electable.

Clinton spoke a language that DNC members know well, focusing ably on broad themes that are familiar to Democrats and on the electoral mechanics that are a source of fascination for members of the party’s national committee. She promised “to help Democrats win up and down the ticket—not just the presidential campaign.” She declared, correctly, that “It’s time to rebuild our party from the ground up.” And she tipped her hat to the popular notion that the party needs to get back to the 50-state strategy of former DNC chair Howard Dean. “We have to compete everywhere,” announced Clinton, to loud applause, which continued as she declared, “We’re building something that will last long after next November.”

Sanders spoke a language that DNC members are learning in a turbulent campaign season that has already produced a fair share of surprises; offering a mixture of progressive-populist agenda and political tough love. The senator from Vermont held nothing back when he spoke to the committee members—and to a crowd of Minnesota grassroots activists that had packed into the ballroom to cheer him on. “My friends, the Republican Party did not win the midterm election in November: We lost that election,” Sanders declared. “We lost because voter turnout was abysmally, embarrassingly low, and millions of working people, young people and people of color gave up on politics as usual and they stayed home. That’s a fact.”

MORE FACTS AT LINK

[Divernan]

1. For many DNC-ers, it boils down to electability & Sanders is looking very good.

More from the OP link:

Bernie: “In my view, Democrats will not retain the White House, will not regain the Senate or the US House, will not be successful in dozens of governor races across the country, unless we generate excitement and momentum and produce a huge voter turnout,” said Sanders, who added, “With all due respect—and I do not mean to insult anyone here—that turnout, that enthusiasm, will not happen with politics as usual. The people of our country understand that given the collapse of the American middle class, and given the grotesque level of income and wealth inequality we are experiencing, we do not need more establishment politics or establishment economics.”

 No one expected the DNC members, many of whom have already endorsed Clinton, to immediately embrace that message as it was delivered Friday. But it is reasonable to expect that Sanders got a good many of them thinking—and that fresh poll numbers will have them thinking even more. Not the poll numbers that show Sanders beating Clinton in the first-primary state of New Hampshire and catching up with her in the first-caucus state of Iowa that have created so much buzz. But, rather, the poll numbers that suggest Sanders could beat front-running Republicans.

“I think that it’s fair to say that few took our campaign seriously [when he announced his candidacy in the spring]. But a lot has changed in these last few months,” argued Sanders, who noted the crowds at his campaign rallies, the fact that his campaign has attracted more than 400,000 donations, and the sense that the economic and social justice issues he has focused on will be central to the November 2016 race.

“If there is a large voter turnout, Democrats will do well. If there is a small voter turnout, Republicans do well,” explained Sanders. “I think you’re looking at the candidate who can substantially increase voter turnout all across the country.” That was a direct appeal to the political instincts of party leaders.

[bvar22]

15. Hillary is the LAST person that would/could build our Party "from the ground up".

She is a solid member of the Old 3rd Way Guard....and THAT is what she would protect...
Wall Street, the "Too-Big-To-Fails, and driving down wages for the Middle/Working Class.
I don't believe any of the Clinton's can even see The Poor.

The Clinton Party IS a Top Down organization, NOT a Grass Roots UP inclusive of the 99%
Just ask Rahm, Bush, or Kissinger.

[haikugal]

2. Good article Demeter, Thanks!

This is a comment from the article and I have to agree with him...

Insightful piece. But one crucial component of the math is missing. In the Quinnipiac, CNN and other polls, in addition to the significant percentage who still do not know who Bernie Sanders is, a larger portion of those who do know him rate him favorably, and his unfavorable ratings are roughly 60% better than VP Biden's and more than 100% better than Sec'y Clinton's. ... Up here in Vermont, where it seems we like to give Democrats & Republicans a couple of terms in the Governor's seat apiece, Bernie has been winning consistently, and won his last statewide election with 71% of the vote. ... Add that to the trends that show him gaining ground every week and already passing Sec'y Clinton in NH, and I think we have much more than a serious contender in Bernie. I think we just might have the most Democratic candidate the party has run in my adult life, and I'm 66. ...

Thanks again, I enjoyed reading that!

[Demeter]

3. Glad you liked it--Truth will out!

From the Merchant of Venice--a diatribe against greedy lenders and business speculation

[haikugal]

4. Yes it will, and I love your reference!

[cantbeserious]

5. "I Believe In The Good Things Coming" - Go Bernie Go

[artislife]

10. I enjoyed the song and video! nt

[Gregorian]

6. My only fear is the degree of suffering Americans are willing to endure before evolving.

[Demeter]

7. I for one have had enough, and I have adult children

[Gregorian]

8. The only political vision we've has has been at the cost of America and its citizens

Real vision without the beer goggles (I mean money goggles) has been missing from politics for a long time. When you build it they'll come. There has been no place there. It's like a diagnosis. Decades of illness, and as I worked to recover, suddenly either I was able to see the truth, or it somehow became evident, and now I'm in control. That's what this is about. Democracy is control.

[Pryderi]

9. To quote Tom Lehrer, "HOO-RAY FOR NEEWWWW MAAATTHHH"! n/t

[Enthusiast]

11. Kicked and recommended to the Max!

[SmittynMo]

12. Someone who can substantially increase voter turnout all across the country?

Isn't that the DNC's chair job? You know, DSW? All I hear is silence!!!! It's deafening silent!!!!

So Bernie has to do two jobs?

The political system is totally screwed up. Just look at the GOP. Boehner is out, and no one wants any seasoned politician running.

Here's comes the revolution, baby. And the best person will win.

[Demeter]

13. The true mark of a leader, IMO, is being able to do just that

Illuminate the problem, provide the solution, AND get active grassroots support behind the job.

We have a real winner, and the also-running are hoping nobody notices.

[Le Taz Hot]

14. K & R

Good read.

[Duckfan]

16. I'll second that.

But the issue of excitability is what worries me sometimes. Generating large crowds at rally's is wonderful. No. Make that magnificent. But that excitability has to have some "umph" behind it--people actually doing the grassroots work necessary. I haven't seen many stories of activities in other states working to get Bernie elected.

Whats going on in other states? Polls, events, etc.