splitting hairs over Soviet-style totalitarian "socialism" and Bernie's version of "democratic socialism." I think they mean things like single-payer healthcare, free college, free childcare, etc. -- things the vast majority of people feel is not necessary and is likely to hit them (who are already living right about the break-even point) right in their bottom line.

Point blank: Bernie's policy platform is NOT popular, and he will be running against an incumbent boasting about a great economy. That doesn't bode well, IMHO.

One other thing, FWIW: those polls are almost generic D vs. Trump polls at this point. Sanders does about the same as anyone else. Lots of people are INCLINED to vote against Trump, or at least say they are, but will they? That remains to be seen. The one worry I have is that American voters feel like they have to choose between a loudmouthed, abrasive asshole who has made them embarrassed to be an American (but has presided over four years of economic prosperity and they have done well) and a "socialist" who is a better person, but wants to jack up their taxes to pay for a bunch of whacky social programs that they don't want and won't even benefit from, or may even be seriously harmed by (assuming these are people who have good private healthcare, good jobs, etc. I see a lot of those suburban moms and dads who turned the tide for the Dems in 2018 deciding that Sanders isn't worth it and sticking with Trump. I think he could even lose some of the states that Hillary won in 2016 (Virginia included).


[Post edited by WahooRQ at 02/13/2020 6:01PM]