The Popular Populist
The above link documents the rise of Bernie Sanders popularity to a peak 59% favorable, 32% unfavorable, or net 27% favorability rating in October of 2016. Within the margin of error it remains the same today!
October 15-18, 2016
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April 14-17 2017
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|||||
Favorable
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Unfavorable
|
Net
|
Favorable
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Unfavorable
|
Net
|
|
%
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%
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%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Sanders
|
56
|
33
|
23
|
57
|
32
|
25
|
Obama
|
52
|
46
|
6
|
|||
Biden
|
47
|
36
|
11
|
|||
Bill Clinton
|
45
|
50
|
-5
|
|||
Pence
|
43
|
33
|
10
|
44
|
41
|
3
|
Hillary Clinton
|
40
|
57
|
-17
|
42
|
53
|
-11
|
E. Warren
|
38
|
32
|
6
|
|||
Kaine
|
35
|
36
|
-1
|
|||
Trump
|
34
|
61
|
-27
|
44
|
51
|
-7
|
Ryan
|
28
|
48
|
-20
|
34
|
47
|
-13
|
Pelosi
|
25
|
49
|
-24
|
31
|
48
|
-17
|
Reid
|
23
|
40
|
-17
|
|||
Shumer
|
27
|
35
|
-8
|
|||
McConnell
|
15
|
45
|
-30
|
23
|
41
|
-18
|
Sources
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Economist/YouGov. Poll
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Harvard-Harris Poll
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Sanders is the only positive that the Democrats have going for them as is evidenced by a week long cross country speaking tour with Democratic Chairman Thomas Perez. Obama, Biden, and Bill Clinton are out of the picture. Hillary's favorability has improved, and her unfavorables have diminished, but is that any more than a sympathy response. Elizabeth Warren has a net positive rating, however there are still many people who do not have an opinion about her.
Pence has kept a net positive rating. Trump, Ryan, and McConnell have all decreased their net negative ratings. Congressional leadership by both parties remains unpopular; the leaders have difficulty in rising above a 33% base.
Is Sanders merely a star, someone who has a very loyal following perhaps far beyond that of Trump, or has he, as the article in the heading claims:
successfully established a premise, a vocabulary, and a program for social-democratic politics in America.
Bernie needs an heir apparent. He will be 79 in 2020. The pudgy guy with the medical records we were never vouchsafed a squint at -- except through the eyes of Dr. Oz who said he didn't see it all -- will be sicker and more conflicted and only six years younger (if we believe his birth certificate, but why should we do that?).
ReplyDeleteGranting that Bernie established a premise and a program and a vocabulary, absent a fountain of youth he needs someone to carry them on. His legacy should be the man or woman who can plausibly lead his party through an election. The Rs have decided that will be Elizabeth Warren and have unleashed the slime machine that produced the ratings for Nancy Pelosi that you can see on the chart. Besides, I am not sure she is more than a one-trick pony, although the trick is a good one.
I've noticed I've been liking Bernie a lot more since the election has been over. During the election, I wanted Hillary to get the nomination and so I was very critical of Bernie, but now he seems like one of the few to be very vocal against Trump and I'm appreciating him more.
ReplyDeleteTom, I sure agree with need not only for an heir apparent but many younger people like Bernie. We need a new party more than a new person. I think Bernie wants that too.
ReplyDeleteBut like Crystal I don't see a lot of people having a program to counter Trump, to be a real alternative.
Unless Bannon breaks with Trump, or someone like O'Reilly challenges Trump, Trump will maintain his base, about 34% of the people. With the support Trump got on Syria, he can play the international card and keep his broader Republican support in 2020 no matter how many stupid things he does.
Unless the Democrats are able to whole heartedly endorse Bernie's program they will fail to be the change agent in 2018 and 2020. They are not there yet. They want some Bernie magic to improve their image without real change.
"They want some Bernie magic to improve their image without real change."
ReplyDeleteAgreed. That is exactly what Tom Perez is trying to do to them.
Bernie has been "on message" since the 1970s, as far as I can see. His most valuable contribution to the 2016 election was illustrating that you can run without the help of Big Industry and Business.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't see an heir in the wings there. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are both going to be a bit long in the tooth by 2020. Beyond them, the Democrats seem pretty budged up in the moderate safe zone, and I don't see anybody peeling off from there.
I expect Democrats will run on a Trump-is-a-scary-moron platform in the 2018, but they better get some real ideas going for 2020, or they'll squander a fairly good opportunity to get rid of Trump, Inc.
Agree that raising large amounts of money through small contributions was Bernie's biggest accomplishment. I hope that encourages a lot of people who otherwise might not get into politics
DeleteI'm with you, Jack. It has to be someone very young who isn't on the media map yet. Kamala Harris is photogenic to the max, but I don't know if she's another compromised third way Democrat. Maybe the Californians can weigh in on her.
ReplyDeleteHere is a possibly likely candidate, Tulsi Gabbard. She is a Representative for Hawaii's 2nd district. She worked for Bernie Sanders' campaign, and was the first female member of the House to endorse him. She is also a major in the National Guard, having served in Iraq on active duty for 12 months. Which would probably work in her favor. A couple of things which might work against her is that she is a practicing Hindu. Also she was born in American Samoa, albeit to parents who are American citizens; and Samoa is an American territory. But it would possibly make the Birthers' heads explode. I don't know if it is an actual deal breaker; shouldn't be, if being born in Canada didn't disqualify Cruz. She also is young and photogenic.
ReplyDeleteSomeone I personally would like to see run in 2020 is Kirsten Gillebrand. One couldn't call her an "heir apparent" to Bernie, but I don't know if I'm "Bernie track" anyway. I would be if it's against Trump. I think the odds are better than even that Trump won't run in 2020. Either because one too many scandals caught up with him, or he decides his attention span for it has passed its expiration date.
I've been impressed with Tulsi Gabbard. CNN often had her on to talk about a variety of issues other than Bernie.
DeleteKamal Harris is one of my representatives. So far she seems very good. But she's new - I don't think she has the experience to run for president. Maybe Adam Schiff. I've been watching him speak about the House's investigation into the Russia connection to Trump's campaign - he's really smart and seems really good too.
ReplyDeleteHere is Schiff giving a talk at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics about the Russia/Trump thing.
ReplyDeleteDemocracy is in an iron lung, and capitalism is the disease. Right now, we have two business parties and we need an alternative. The voting system has to be changed to reduce the reigning oarties and introduce some new ideas.
ReplyDeleteYah, maybe a viable third party is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteStanley, were you at the science march(es)? Give us your report!
Jean, driving down today to my mother's near Philly this afternoon. Getting on a bus there at 5AM tomorrow morning to go to the Washington Mall. Trying to figure out a sign. Maybe "Without great science, no great America." Anyway, I'll write something up when I get back.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Stanley's report.
ReplyDelete