How Bernie Sanders turned himself into a serious presidential contender

[Stellar]

CNN)Bernie Sanders faces the biggest test of his decades-long career this week.

The committed Democratic socialist and sometimes self-styled radical has consistently argued that his brand of populist politics can win elections. In Vermont, his rumpled persona and righteously indignant approach to economic inequality helped him climb from mayor of Burlington to congressman and U.S. senator.

Now he'll find out whether he can have the same success nationally.

The first Democratic debate of the 2016 presidential season on Tuesday — sponsored by CNN and Facebook — offers Sanders his best chance to argue that his campaign is not merely a summertime lark fueled by fickle millennials, but instead a sturdy and battle-ready movement that can span 50 states and capture the nomination and the White House.

More/Video : CNNPolitics.com

[saturnsring]

1. i thought it was by calling himself a socialist and saying how we should be like sweden