Is Bernie Sanders Finished?

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. Dumb. It wasn't that long ago that pundits were thinking Elizabeth Warren was done

Or that Beto was 2020's Obama. Or that Harris was on a rocket trajectory to the top. The most recent buzz has been that Biden is an avalanche that can't be stopped. Now that buzz is starting to fray a little around the edges.And all of those earlier predictions proved wrong but they may yet again prove right.

Pundits get paid to do punditry. And they get paid better if they can come up with a new click worthy angle on a political story, the more startling the better. "Sanders does have some assets of course", which of course begs the question "Is Bernie Sanders finished?"

This is the season when people try on candidates like tee shirts. Should I go with my usual color palette or try out something more daring? Should I shop at my usual store or check out that new place that opened up one town over?

There hasn't even been a single debate yet, and twelve are scheduled. Sure there are negative tea leaves available to be read about Bernie's chances. They may prove correct in their prognosis. Or they may not. Every day is a news cycle. Every month is a political near eternity, and the impact of a single day grows ever more powerful once the calendar flips from 2019 to 2020 when January finally arrives. And STILL not a single primary or caucus vote will have been cast.

I am fine with this type of political speculation when it doesn't over reach. "Troubling indicators for Sanders?", OK. "Is Bernie Sanders finished?", dumb.