If Bernie runs and loses....

[Higgins]

Will Sanders supporters accept he lost, and that even most Dems don't actually want Socialism, or will they claim the DNC and "evul Establishment Corporate Democrats" helped Trump win?

[Shadows]

Trolllllllll !!!!!!!!!!

[TML]

At this point, I think the only way for that to happen is if he becomes tainted by scandal or if his health deteriorates significantly.

[Rookie Yinzer]

They will spontaneously combust.

[NEW JERSEY FOR MENENDEZ]

At this point, I think the only way for that to happen is if he becomes tainted by scandal or if his health deteriorates significantly.

Or there's more electable Democrats in the field (Biden, Harris, Booker, etc.)

[TheLeftwardTide]

If Bernie loses to Trump, it will most likely be because a Bloomberg-type independent runs and splits the Democratic vote.

[NEW JERSEY FOR MENENDEZ]

If Bernie loses to Trump, it will most likely be because a Bloomberg-type independent runs and splits the Democratic vote.

Or low minority turnout causes Trump to hit 50% in PA, VA, MI, WI, MN, and sweep the election.

[DrScholl]

Same thing as last time, but less noticeable. He'd be eliminated earlier on because of a wider field of candidates.

[choclatechip45]

I could see Bernie losing to trump for multiple reasons. 1) socialism being a dirty word 2) sanders isn't that charasmatic IMO. 3) if working class voters are more interested in cultural issues than economic issues. However his supporters will blame everyone else.

[Strudelcutie4427]

At this point, I think the only way for that to happen is if he becomes tainted by scandal or if his health deteriorates significantly.

Or his wife goes to jail

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Bernie would of course win the general against Trump. But he has to run and he has to make it past the primary where the Democratic establishment will fight him tooth and nail.

[BudgieForce]

Bernie would of course win the general against Trump. But he has to run and he has to make it past the primary where the Democratic establishment will fight him tooth and nail.

I think your underestimating how popular Biden is. The establishment wouldnt need to fight tooth and nail if Biden runs. 

[TheSaint250]

I would love to see a repeat of 1972

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

I would love to see a repeat of 1972

Something like that simply can't happen in modern times, no matter how far-left Sanders is. Just by virtue of being the Democratic nominee, he would get at least 150 electoral votes.

[Xing]

Him losing would almost certainly imply that he made mistakes during the general election, or some scandals came up. Reactions would range from "He was unfairly attacked/the DNC never got behind him!!!" to "Ha! Democrats will never win an election EVER again!!!!" to "Democrats have to become a *moderate* (hero) party if they ever want to be relevant!!! Progressivism is dead!!!" to "Booker/Biden/Gillibrand/etc would have won!!!"

Of course, people will conclude that the Democratic Party is finished, they're just a coastal/urban/boutique party, and the Republican domination is permanent if Trump wins against anyone in 2020... And then if Democrats win in 2024, people will claim that the Republican Party is finished, they're just a Southern/rural/hick party, and the Democrats will never lose another election again because demographics.

[Medal506]

They're a bunch of spoiled cry babies like many die hard Trump supporters are except they're worse because they cause violence and riots when they don't get what they want. In short no they probably won't

[TheSaint250]

They're a bunch of spoiled cry babies like many die hard Trump supporters are except they're worse because they cause violence and riots when they don't get what they want. In short no they probably won't

Remember that white college kids in Mississippi rioted and turned violent when Romney lost?

Peppridge farm remembers

Because some random college kids outweigh months of national protests and violence in many instances.

[Confused Democrat]

I could see Bernie losing to trump for multiple reasons. 1) socialism being a dirty word 2) sanders isn't that charasmatic IMO. 3) if working class voters are more interested in cultural issues than economic issues. However his supporters will blame everyone else.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Bernie's now a celebrity in his own right; he's not like Dennis Kucinich versus the 2004 field.  Not at all.  He has a national following, and a diverse following, and he's tapped into the issue of healthcare that has folks who would ordinarily vote Republican listening to him. 

If Bernie runs and loses, the biggest reason would be that he never became a Democrat.  THAT'S the big issue here.  Bernie is USING the Democratic Party without really joining it, and that's something political parties don't just allow to happen.  I like Bernie on a personal level, and I agree with him on healthcare (even as I disagree with him on many social issues).    But there's something to be said for a party not wanting its Presidential candidate to be a man who won't say he's one of them.

[NEW JERSEY FOR MENENDEZ]

They're a bunch of spoiled cry babies like many die hard Trump supporters are except they're worse because they cause violence and riots when they don't get what they want. In short no they probably won't

Remember that white college kids in Mississippi rioted and turned violent when Romney lost?

Peppridge farm remembers

Ah, the classic "and you!" tactic. Very decisive and mature.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Bernie would of course win the general against Trump. But he has to run and he has to make it past the primary where the Democratic establishment will fight him tooth and nail.

I think your underestimating how popular Biden is. The establishment wouldnt need to fight tooth and nail if Biden runs. 

Biden wouldn't be in stronger shape (in the primary) than Hillary last time, and they went all out for her.

[HisGrace]

People on here who are so sure Bernie would win the general will be in for a rude awakening if he actually got the nomination. If Trump's approval ratings are Bush in his second term bad then all bets are off, but short of nominating Clinton again nominating Bernie is the best gift they can give him. Same goes for Warren.

They should be focusing on finding someone youthful, charismatic (good charisma, not crazy uncle charisma) and optimistic: the general template for modern Democratic presidents (Kennedy, Carter, B. Clinton, Obama).

[TheSaint250]

I would love to see a repeat of 1972

Something like that simply can't happen in modern times, no matter how far-left Sanders is. Just by virtue of being the Democratic nominee, he would get at least 150 electoral votes.

I know. Just a dream

[publicunofficial]

People on here who are so sure Bernie would win the general will be in for a rude awakening if he actually got the nomination. If Trump's approval ratings are Bush in his second term bad then all bets are off, but short of nominating Clinton again nominating Bernie is the best gift they can give him. Same goes for Warren.

They should be focusing on finding someone youthful, charismatic (good charisma, not crazy uncle charisma) and optimistic: the general template for modern Democratic presidents (Kennedy, Carter, B. Clinton, Obama).

I agree the Democrats should run the ideal perfect candidate. Unfortunately they don't have any of those.