It can work both ways

[question everything]

Many of us have seen posts here "predicting" that if Hillary is the nominee, "many have said that they will not support HRC if nominated" (which I consider close to blackmail..)

Recently we've heard that Sanders is trying to lure Trump supporters. After all, they, like Sanders, do not trust the "status quo ."

Thus, I wonder whether, if the general elections put Hillary, vs. Trump, whether many former Sanders supporters would vote for Trump.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/upshot/donald-trumps-strongest-supporters-a-certain-kind-of-democrat.html

I have been concerned that, like in 1968, many liberals would just stay home. But now the danger is bigger.

[TDale313]

1. Very very few I'd imagine.

The concern IMO is whether Trump would connect with low information disaffected voters who rarely vote anyway. It won't be the ones who are already invested in Bernie's message.

[Historic NY]

2. Many of them are not democrats so they're aren't in it to win...

I'd say the NY times is full of it.

[Cha]

5. "Donald Trump’s Strongest Supporters: A Certain Kind of Democrat".. yeah a freaking DINO.

[wildeyed]

7. Nah, Dixiecrat.

They don't really fit in either political bucket. Too populist and big government for the Reps, too racist and socially conservative for Dems. They like demagogues too.

It disturbs me greatly to realize that the Sanders campaign is actually trying to entice these people over. They will not change their racist, misogynistic ways, that's for sure. Even Saint Sanders can't heal that. Choosing them as allies means throwing a bunch of minority groups under the bus. How progressive!

[riversedge]

8. did you see this map that goes with the article?..

Interesting to say the least.


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/upshot/donald-trumps-strongest-supporters-a-certain-kind-of-democrat.html

[Treant]

3. It seems doubtful

in either direction. Senator Sanders is not racist, not a loudmouth, and not attracting attention for being constantly insulting. His pull with Trump voters seems in extreme doubt as far as I'm thinking.

In the other direction, Sanders voters voting Republican? Unlikely, although some might stay home (just as some Clinton voters might stay home if Sanders is the elected candidate). I doubt either number is that significant, or that different.

[Cha]

4. Donald Trump’s Strongest Supporters: A Certain Kind of Democrat.. a freaking DINO.

[Coolest Ranger]

6. There is too much at stake

They need to get over this selfishness. Gay marriage, the supreme court, health care. If they are true democrats they will do what is right

[wildeyed]

9. Probably a few would.

Both Trump and Sanders are populists. Both want to make the people who run the country pay. Both groups of supporters are nostalgic for a time when civil rights for minorities and women were ignored.

Trump's message is overtly racist and appeals mainly to the overt racists we once knew as Dixiecrats. But remember that it was the furtive racism of the North that defeated King, not the overt racism of South. And that Dixiecrats and Northern Democrats WERE once aligned in a coalition that did not break until LBJ and the Voting Rights Act.

And what I realize after watching this primary is that more of that furtive racism still exists in the white liberal community than I wanted to believe.

So yes, I think that a few Sanders supporters would go over. There is enough in common that they will hold their noses over the racism part. The populism and sticking it to the people who are currently in power will seem like enough to them. And some would just because they have come to hate Clinton so much that they are no longer logical.

But not most. Most have values beyond populism and recognize that Trump is more of a compromise than Hillary ever will be. And I don't think there is enough that either side can shave off to win the actual election. Cruz is going to get most of Trump's supporters if he quits. Clinton gets most of Sanders'.