Don't Underestimate Bernie's Brand

[kenn3d]

Sanders displays the classic strengths of new entrants taking on dominant players—and the world of marketing sheds light on his path to success.
Like many new and different brands, Bernie Sanders has a message that resonates with supporters. But just as big brand managers make the mistake of dismissing new competition, the media has discounted Sanders’s chances of nomination. Indoctrinated by years of “business as usual” both groups assume that history will repeat itself; they assume that the front runner has the upper hand; they assume that the parameters of success are fixed and what has worked in the past will work in the future. The real challenge when forecasting future success—for brands or politicians—is to test existing assumptions, not simply to accept them at face value.
...
Sanders’s message and tone are so different that they simply do not compute for pundits—but they resonate with voters.
...
The evidence suggests that, like other successful brands, Sanders has already built up a loyal following. Now, Sanders’s big challenge is to take his message and make it meaningful and salient to as many voters as possible. It’s a difficult task, but it may not be as insurmountable as the media would have us believe.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/what-marketing-trends-say-about-bernie-sanderss-success/413959/

[DCBob]

1. Bernie's message certainly resonates with a certain demographic but that's pretty much where it ends

Although he has spent a great deal of time and effort trying to connect with voters in the south, its just not working. His numbers in virtually every southern state are atrocious. I think he has simply has run into a dead end. No matter what he does I don't think its going to help.