Bloomberg vs Bernie is actually a pretty decent test of electability for the GE.

[DanTex]

Bloomberg is a former Republican who supported W, has a history of saying offensive things about minorities and women, and who in his political career, up until about a month ago, has promoted many policies that are opposed to what the majority of Democrats want. Bernie, on the other hand, has massive grassroots support, and is running on a platform of policies that are highly popular with Democratic voters.

Without his billions, Bloomberg would have no chance at all. But Bloomberg does have billions.

Since it seems it's gonna come down to those two, it will also be a test of two different theories of how to win elections. The first is with grassroot support and popular policies. The second is through sheer bombardment of cash.

If Bernie wins, then people who doubt his electability should at least be comforted by the fact that his grassroot support and progressive policies were able to overcome the best funded campaign in the history of American politics.

And if Bloomberg wins, people who doubt his electability should be at least comforted by the fact that his billions were able to defeat one of if not the most popular politician in America, who has a huge base of support, and is running on a platform with great appeal.

[spin]

1. My question is will Bernie supporters vote for Bloomberg in the general election?

[thesquanderer]

3. Most yes, just as most supported Hillary. And the ones that don't...

..are likely to be offset by the reverse, the voters who would be willing to vote for Bloomberg but not Sanders.

So I think either can win. The key may be WHERE they draw their votes from.

[nobuddy]

2. TBF, that is right in Sanders' wheelhouse

[MineralMan]

4. Bernie Sanders is very popular with his supporters.

With everyone else, not so much, really. The real question is whether he can gain popularity with those who don't already support him enthusiastically. I don't know about that.

Bloomberg runs ads. Very well-done ads. One of the things about Bernie is that his is a personal campaign. He advertises, but here in Minnesota, he has just one ad that's running. It's OK, but not great. Yesterday, Bernie's ad ran once during the local and national news hour on my CBS affiliate. In that same hour, I saw six different Bloomberg ads. Each of them was a very, very well-done ad. Bernie's one ad was, well, meh.

Unlike Bernie's fans and supporters, most people are not all that focused on the election, really They won't visit any candidate's website, and they don't watch MSNBC. They get their news in small doses from broadcast TV networks. And there, they're seeing six superbly produced ads from Bloomberg that speak to their issues. They're seeing one ad from Bernie, and it's not all that good, as ads go.

You spend your day, much as I do, here on DU. We are not like most voters. Not even close. I recognize that. You apparently do not.

[DanTex]

6. That's not what the polls say, so I'm not sure what you're basing that on.

You're right that most people don't follow politics closely, which is why Bloomberg's billions might win out. That's my point. The primary will be a test of grassroots support and popular policies versus sheer dollars. And the dollars might win. We'll see.

[MineralMan]

8. See this:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287533775

[DanTex]

9. That doesn't look like a poll to me.

[MineralMan]

10. Very Astute You Are...

[LanternWaste]

15. "Jill Stein is the one with the detrimental attitude. Strange that you don't have a problem"

Weird, that.

What a difference of deeply held convictions a mere candidate makes.

[frazzled]

5. Two old white men (age 78), facing off against an old white man (73)

Sigh. Trump will look young an energetic.

Face it: in real life none of these people would be able to get a real job. Looks like running for president is the new job opportunity for people over 70. (Disclosure: I will turn 70 soon; and although I am highly experienced in my field, I know no organization would hire me for a new job application.)

[ancianita]

7. What makes you think it's gonna come down to those two? Media hype? Pro-male bias? Other?

[DanTex]

12. The way the polls are looking, and the early results. Maybe it won't.

[ancianita]

14. The polls look to be male run with predominantly male respondents, and no explanation of the

validity or reliability of their sampling. Period.

Polls are bullshit right now. But they do show what candidates they DON'T care about. The women -- candidates OR voters.

[msongs]

11. gotta love the compliment to trump...

"And if Bloomberg wins, people who doubt his electability should be at least comforted by the fact that his billions were able to defeat one of if not the most popular politician in America, who has a huge base of support, and is running on a platform with great appeal."

[NurseJackie]

13. For many it's easier to accept "Former Republican" over "Current Socialist".

That's an across-the-board observation which will be very important on election day. Trump and the GOP would CLEAN BERNIE'S CLOCK!

[Baclava]

16. A 3 term Republican mayor who also happens to be a Wall Street billionaire is a Bernie dream foe

They will slug it out from here on I think

[R B Garr]

18. Exactly. Former Republican just means "Independent".

We’ve heard for five years how Sanders’ Independents are going to take over our party. Now that someone else is beating him at his own game, they don’t like it.

Republicans are loving the idea of running against socialism, it’s going to drag us all down,

[Yavin4]

17. We have to see Bloomberg in the debates before we can assess his prospects

Ads are one thing. In-person, think on your feet debates are something else.