How Bernie Sanders Could Actually Pull Off an Upset in South Carolina

[eridani]

http://inthesetimes.com/article/18780/can-bernie-sanders-sell-socialism-in-south-carolina

A 36-year-old mother of four who planned to vote for Clinton says that “all I know is Ben Carson is saying things that are off the wall. …[Clinton’s] got my vote. The Republicans are worse than the Democrats. They want to cut all the programs [that help people like me].” When asked what she thought of Sanders’ support for a $15 minimum wage, she smiles broadly. “Now you’re talking,” she says. “Oh, I’d like that. I make $8 an hour cleaning rooms.”

“People have no idea of who he is,” says Christale Spain. “That’s the obstacle here in South Carolina. Once [they] spend 10 minutes finding out what he’s done, they’ve completely turned our way. Now we’re making inroads.”

Luckily for Sanders, Spain’s previous post in the Democratic Party taught her the political nitty-gritty that complements his focus on big ideas. And it helps Sanders to have a high-profile, local black organizer accompany him on his forays to promote those ideas in the black community’s barbershops, hair salons, churches and meeting halls, as well as producing ads for black community radio. Three jam-packed visits in late fall seem to have generated some energy for the campaign, converting mid-level black Democrats and boosting his poll numbers.

There are still more prickly problems. South Carolina’s Democratic establishment is fairly conservative. According to Adolph Reed, a University of Pennsylvania political scientist who works with both the Sanders and the Labor for Bernie campaigns, many local black politicians in South Carolina look to candidates like Clinton for future jobs, contracts and contacts, and often define civil rights in terms of their special interests. This political climate goes as far back as Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, he says: “Clinton people went through the region and had a powerful message. Our guy is going to get the nomination, and if you want access, get on board right now.”

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Not gonna hold my breath :)

Even if Bernie wins Iowa, New Hampshire, and then Nevada, I don't expect him to win all 50 states. Clinton held on to the bitter end in 2008, and I expect her to do the same in 2016, taking her share of states as well. It's going to be a long slog, not over quickly.