2016: Sarah Palin vs Bernie Sanders

[NewYorkExpress]

Sarah Palin wins the Iowa Caucuses and South Carolina Primary before sweeping to the Republican nomination for President.

Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic nomination after a convention floor fight against Hillary Clinton.

Who are the running mates?

What does the map look like?

[Agonized-Statism]

Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) / Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) ✓
Fmr. Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) / Fmr. Congressman Newt Gingrich (R-GA)
Businessman Howard Schultz (I-NY) / Admiral James Stavridis (I-FL)

Even if you're an adamant hater of Sanders' campaign, which I'm guessing most of you are, a religious right candidate that most people under 65 already hate will have an uphill fight- especially considering that Sanders' movement was strong enough to get him through the primaries in this scenario. A liberal businessman runs and actually wins up hurting the Republicans more.

[Alben Barkley]

Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) / Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) ✓
Fmr. Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) / Fmr. Congressman Newt Gingrich (R-GA)
Businessman Howard Schultz (I-NY) / Admiral James Stavridis (I-FL)

Even if you're an adamant hater of Sanders' campaign, which I'm guessing most of you are, a religious right candidate that most people under 65 already hate will have an uphill fight- especially considering that Sanders' movement was strong enough to get him through the primaries in this scenario. A liberal businessman runs and actually wins up hurting the Republicans more.

This is total fantasy man. There is no way Bernie wins NC, GA, FL, or AZ. He also would not win OH and IA even against Palin, and would struggle even in PA.  People over 65 vote more than anyone and make up a big part of Florida in particular, with other key groups there not being fans of “socialism” to put it mildly. Even Biden is struggling there due to this, Bernie would be DOA. And I think you are seriously overestimating how much people hate Palin. You really think she couldn’t win pretty much all the same people Trump does at least? And against Bernie, that might be enough. Telling you gotta have Howard Schultz run a third party campaign here and attract more support from Republicans (highly unlikely) for this to work.

[Agonized-Statism]

Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) / Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) ✓
Fmr. Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) / Fmr. Congressman Newt Gingrich (R-GA)
Businessman Howard Schultz (I-NY) / Admiral James Stavridis (I-FL)

Even if you're an adamant hater of Sanders' campaign, which I'm guessing most of you are, a religious right candidate that most people under 65 already hate will have an uphill fight- especially considering that Sanders' movement was strong enough to get him through the primaries in this scenario. A liberal businessman runs and actually wins up hurting the Republicans more.

This is total fantasy man. There is no way Bernie wins NC, GA, FL, or AZ. He also would not win OH and IA even against Palin, and would struggle even in PA.  People over 65 vote more than anyone and make up a big part of Florida in particular, with other key groups there not being fans of “socialism” to put it mildly. Even Biden is struggling there due to this, Bernie would be DOA. And I think you are seriously overestimating how much people hate Palin. You really think she couldn’t win pretty much all the same people Trump does at least? And against Bernie, that might be enough. Telling you gotta have Howard Schultz run a third party campaign here and attract more support from Republicans (highly unlikely) for this to work.

Not a Sanders supporter, so no, it's my opinion on how a hypothetical election would go. The third party has a lot to do with Sanders' bigger victory here, but I also don't personally think Palin would have the charisma or the platform that could attract the voters Trump did in our world. "Socialists" like Obama did fine in Florida. That label and the negative weight it carries in American politics isn't unique to Sanders. Do you have anything to support the claim that a moderate third party run wouldn't attract support from Republicans, or is that just an equally valid opinion?