Bernie Sanders is powered by a loyal base, but Iowa and New Hampshire show the movement has limits

[RandySF]

The first two contests of the Democratic presidential race have demonstrated the power — and the limits — of the movement that Bernie Sanders has built since he began running for the White House nearly five years ago, obscuring the future of his ascendant candidacy.

A core base of young, liberal and working-class voters inspired by the senator from Vermont's calls for a political revolution powered the self-described democratic socialist to an effective tie atop the Iowa caucuses and an outright win in this week's New Hampshire primary.

Yet the early returns show that Sanders's loyal army represents a limited slice of the party, accounting for just over a quarter of the vote in each of the first two states. And one of the central premises of his campaign — that it is built to activate legions of new voters and spur record turnout among young people — has not been realized.

Perhaps more troubling for Sanders are the signals that he is having difficulties expanding his appeal beyond his staunchest backers. Half the voters in Tuesday's Democratic primary in New Hampshire said his positions were too liberal, according to exit polls. He has struggled among older voters, who make up a significant part of the Democratic electorate, and in suburban areas that could be key in upcoming races. Critics also say that hostility from his fervent followers makes them feel unwelcome.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-is-powered-by-a-loyal-base-but-results-in-iowa-and-new-hampshire-show-the-movement-has-limits/2020/02/14/e10c570a-4296-11ea-b5fc-eefa848cde99_story.html

[George II]

1. He said he had 25,000 volunteers on the ground in Iowa for months....

Net result was 45,000 votes - 1.8 per volunteer.

[msongs]

2. staunchest backers using creepy and scary cult like language. its a turn off nt

[ChubbyStar]

4. The same can be same for the criticizers

Real fucking turn off

[Cha]

8. No it can't.

[radius777]

10. Agree, Carville is correct

only one with the 'stones' to call it out.

[sheshe2]

3. For me it is the threats that are a turn off.

That and the ugly name calling and the labels tossed at us as slurs. 'Centrists' is the new word for 'Establishment'.

I am one of those older Americans that vote in every election. I have never stamped my feet or threatened to take my ball home if my preferred candidate did not win. I would never threaten my country or it's people by refusing to vote.

I am a liberal Democrat and proud of it. When I vote it is for our future and our children's future. I will never sit at home and only dream of a Revolution. I vote to build, I will never vote to tear it all down. You build upwards from a strong secure base and not implode the building to start from scratch.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
Barack Obama

[AverageJoe]

6. This Sanders supporter

Hereby extends his hand in friendship.

[sheshe2]

7. Thank you.

[AverageJoe]

5. Well, there's this

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/482969-sanders-builds-double-digit-national-lead-poll?amp

[pansypoo53219]

9. sigh. no clear front runner.

dummies. blah blah blah blah.'experts. hillary ran as a centrist. she sure got GOP votes.