What if a Democratic candidate for VP cited Karl Marx as a huge influence?

[Vosem]

Ayn Rand is much, much more politically acceptable in America than Karl Marx.

[Vosem]

That's what happens after 40 years of cold war that vilifies anything remotely anti-capitalist. As the cold war generation (especially the boomers) die off, you'll probably see an economic shift to the left, but probably nothing close to outright acceptance of Marx in the mainstream.

I doubt it, myself -- in my experience, people my age are more likely to espouse 'deficit hawk' views than adults, just reflexively.