Bernie Sanders' fundraising is just the latest sign of his top-tier status

[workinclasszero]

Analysis by Harry Enten, CNN April 3, 2019

(CNN)-Make no mistake: There is a clear path to the Democratic presidential nomination for Sen. Bernie Sanders. His strong fundraising numbers are just the latest sign that Sanders 2.0 has a better shot of succeeding than his first bid in 2016.

Sanders has reported raising $18.2 million in the first six weeks of his 2020 presidential campaign. He'll likely come in first or a close second place for money raised this quarter.

In 2016, Sanders took in $15 million during the first two months of his 2016 campaign and was a distant second to former Secretary of State and eventual Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in money raised.

Sanders' strong fundraising compared to 2016 is important because raising money is correlated with primary success. But money raised is not the only good sign that he's in a better position now.

A look at three other factors (endorsements, polling and media mentions) that I've identified as key indicators all point to Sanders being in a stronger position for 2020 than he was in 2016.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/03/politics/bernie-sanders-fundraising-top-tier-status/index.html

[Hassin Bin Sober]

1. K and R

[Hortensis]

2. Is it true polls show he's lost half his support

since 2016, or close to?

That would only make sense, though, with his 2016 baggage and with so much competition this time. Seemingly a number of democratic candidates are attracting a bunch of his primary voters.

Perhaps not the quarter of them who went on to vote for Trump or third-party last time, but rather the attrition is apparently among the 3/4 who were regular Democrats who went on to vote for Hillary and other Democrats. The ones not responsible for Trump and the Republican Congress and legislatures and courts.

[George II]

14. He's down to 20% in most polls.

[RobertDevereaux]

3. Bernie's email this morning...

First, thank you very much for the great support you've given our campaign since we
announced six weeks ago. During that period more than 1 million people have agreed
to roll up their sleeves and volunteer, more than 500,000 have made financial
contributions and tens of thousands have attended our campaign rallies in states
throughout the country.

We're off to a great start but if we're going to win the Democratic nomination,
defeat Trump and transform our country, there's a heck of a lot more that needs to
be done.

I don't have to tell you that this is a pivotal and momentous time for our nation
and for the entire planet, and that there is a monumental clash taking place right
now between two very different political visions.

And not to get you too nervous, but the future of our country and the world is
dependent upon which side wins that struggle.

That means that if there has ever been a time in American history when our people
must stand together in the fight for economic, social, racial and environmental
justice - now is that time. In other words, we need to create an unprecedented
grassroots political movement.

On April 27, we take our next big step in that effort. On April 27 we are going to
do something you will remember decades from now.

That is the day we are hosting Organizing Kickoff events in every state in the
country, events which will lay the foundation for our grassroots campaign.

And what I am asking you to do today is to say that you will host one of these events.

Now, I understand that maybe many of you have never hosted an event like this
before, but not only is it critically important, it is also quite easy. I know that
you can do it, because tens of thousands of people did it successfully as part of
our last campaign. And shortly after you add your name to say that you will, a
member of our team will reach out to make sure you have any support you need along
the way.

This is the means by which we bring millions of Americans together to help transform
our society. So what do you say?

Please add your name to say you’re willing to host an Organizing Kickoff event on
April 27. If we are organized, if we can bring millions of people into our movement,
we’re going to win this election. So please, say you’re in.

Maintaining a vibrant democracy based on the principles of justice has never been
easy. And in these dangerous and unprecedented times, it may be more difficult than
ever.

But we are going to defeat Donald Trump and transform this country not because I am
a billionaire or because we have a super PAC funded by billionaires. We are going to
win this election and transform this country because we will put together the
strongest grassroots coalition in the history of American politics.

I have said it before and I will say it again: real change always takes place from
the bottom on up, not the top on down. That’s the kind of process I will always
fight for — on this campaign and in the White House — because it is what I believe
in from the bottom of my heart.

We start at the community level, then we go to the state level, and then the
national level. And today I am asking you to be an integral part of that effort,
because ultimately creating change starts with you. So I am asking:

Add your name to say you’ll host an Organizing Kickoff event on April 27:

On April 27, we are going to bring people together from all across this country to
take the next step in building an unprecedented grassroots movement from coast to
coast. A movement which has the courage to take on the powerful special interests
that dominate the economic and political life of our country.

Thank you for saying you will take a leadership role in that struggle.

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders

[workinclasszero]

8. Bernie's lead in the money race will fund all these events

and bring many more thousands of people into his campaign.

[George II]

13. I'll wait until we see his FEC.gov filings to see ALL of the details of that amount.

[NewJeffCT]

4. I'm not supporting anybody in the primaries

but, if Biden decides not to run, I think Sanders is the clear frontrunner based on money and name recognition - even if he gets half the support he had in 2016, the Clinton vote is divided between everybody else

[Demsrule86]

5. Name recognitionis not always a positive thing.

[njhoneybadger]

6. Yup he's top-Tier and we have Neal Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to remind us

Maybe he can fuck this one up too and we can add a couple more RWNJ Judges to the list

[Gothmog]

7. Really? I heard that sanders was expecting more than $20 million

Most people were told to expect that sanders would raise more than $20 million given that he had raised over $10 million in his first week https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/trump-turns-2020-election-referendum-health-care-n989926

Bernie Sanders raised $5.9 million in his first 24 hours, and appears to be on pace to raise more than $20 million for the quarter after announcing on February 19.

sanders also felled short of the 1 million contributions he promised.

[Paladin]

9. Let Bernie talk about his "top-tier" status at that Fox "news" town hall.

Hope all those non-Democrats have a good time.

[msongs]

10. and here I thought bernie opposed the big bucks driving candidates lol. nt

[workinclasszero]

11. Average donation of 20 bucks a piece

Bernie's campaign is fueled by People Power!

The way they all should be!

[George II]

12. Average contribution per person is over $30.