USA Today: Bernie Sanders defied expectations with long-shot presidential campaign

[Omaha Steve]

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/11/bernie-sanders-defied-expectations-presidential-campaign/85694576/

Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY 12:41 p.m. EDT July 11, 2016

WASHINGTON — Who would have thought, just over a year ago, that a gruff septuagenarian with unruly hair and democratic socialist views would capture the imaginations of young people and support from more than 13 million voters in a long-shot bid for the presidency?

Bernie Sanders was at least 50 points behind Hillary Clinton in some national polls when he announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in April 2015. But his call for a "political revolution" quickly gained momentum on social media, igniting a "feel the Bern" fever that ultimately drew nearly 1.5 million people to his rallies and other events across the country.

Clinton’s nomination may indeed have been inevitable, but Sanders’ surprising star power made it seem much less so.

“He got a tiger by the tail,” said RoseAnn DeMoro, executive director of National Nurses United, which supported Sanders. “All of a sudden, he emerges on the scene and he became an immediate legend. People didn’t know who he was.”

FULL story and video at link.


Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at a rally in Washington on June 9, 2016.
(Photo: Cliff Owen, AP)

[panader0]

1. The Democratic Party has Bernie to thank for a more progressive

platform. The bitterness on this site towards a truly good man astounded me.
I can only hope that his movement stays vital moving forward.
Thanks to you Steve for all you did to help raise money for his campaign.

[Old Codger]

2. He tried

But they will sideline him as soon as they can get away with itt.

[LongTomH]

3. +1000 Thanks from me too, Steve!

[JudyM]

5. + 1000, thanks to Steve and Donkees and everyone who kept Bernie funded and top of mind for

all of us.

Grateful to this corner of DU in a big way. I put in hundreds of hours volunteering for Bernie and it was beyond great to have y'all here to come to and get refortified for more hours.

[merrily]

4. Enough already with the gruff old guy cliches.

And media should stop showing what an out of touch establishment tool it is. It's no shock to millions of Americans how hungry they are for government that works for the people at least 10% as much as it works for the plutonomy.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. K&R! He certainly did!

He gave us liberals hope that things could change and that there are more of us out there than we ever imagined...