While Democrats may be giddy about the prospect of Republican front runner Donald Trump mulling a third-party bid, they may be perilously ignoring their left flank.
Ed Klein reports “insiders” with the Bernie Sanders campaign say the socialist senator is “poised” to run as a third-party candidate himself.
“Several Sanders campaign insiders say the 73-year-old leftwing firebrand is convinced the fix is in to give the Democrat nomination to Hillary—unless she implodes, at which point the party will line up lockstep behind Biden,” according to Klein.
The Sanders campaign sources believe he will be able to trump Hillary’s and Biden’s money, ground game and endorsements.
“In Bernie’s opinion Hillary is owned by Wall Street and is a hawk,” says one of Sanders’ top campaign officials. “There’s no way he’s going to come to an accommodation with her. He is not in this to compromise.
“The decision hasn’t been made when to make the announcement to go independent,” this source continued. “Right now, things are going great and he very well may upset Hillary in the New Hampshire primary.
“But as soon as she starts piling up delegates with the help of Wall Street money and her formidable ground operation, Bernie’s going to pull out and announce an independent run.
“Bernie’s polling has shown that he has a tidal wave of support among people across the country who have never or seldom voted. They’ll come out for him and pull the Independent Party lever.”
Such a prospect would be devastating to Clinton or any Democrat who takes her place.
Polling indicates liberals are much more enthusiastic for Sanders.
The latest Iowa poll finds the Vermont senator is only 7 points behind Clinton.
The Des Moines Register/Bloomberg finds 37% of prospective Democratic caucus goers say Hillary is their first choice. Thirty percent want Sanders, CBS reports.
In June, a similar poll found Clinton trouncing Sanders, 50% to 24%. That’s a loss of 13 percentage points for Clinton amid the classified email scandal and doubts about her trustworthiness.
The Register notes Clinton has lost a third of her support since May. That month, she enjoyed the support of 57% of Democratic caucus goers.
Clinton has a favorability rating among Democrats of 77%, a decline of 9 points. Sanders, meanwhile, is viewed favorably by 73% of Democrats, an increase of 26 points.
Sanders is now consistently polling of Clinton in New Hampshire, as well.
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