2016 Postmortem

portlander23

(2,078 posts) Tue Oct 13, 2015, 04:32 PM Oct 2015

WaPo: Bernie Sanders, the surprise story of the year

Bernie Sanders, the surprise story of the year
John Wagner
Washington Post

Bernie Sanders has wryly observed that the media used to refer to him as “the longest-serving independent in the history of the United States Congress.” But now that he is running for president, Sanders says, he’s more often described as a “self-professed democratic socialist.”

Both labels are accurate descriptions of the rumpled 74-year-old senator from Vermont, who has surprised most everyone with the strength of his run for the Democratic presidential nomination in a field led by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Since launching his presidential bid in April, Sanders has drawn eye-popping crowds to his rallies around the country, including an estimated 24,000 people in Boston earlier this month. His supporters often profess their devotion with signs declaring “Feel the Bern.”

Sanders has a reputation for being a little grumpy but also has a sense of humor and has gamely sought to advance his vision for a fairer America through pop culture as well as in the halls of Congress. He has recently poked fun at himself during appearances on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on CBS and “The Night Show with Larry Wilmore” on Comedy Central. And on Thursday, Sanders is booked to appear on “Ellen.”