Josh Barro, Maria Teresa Kumar, and Jonathan Alter just nailed it about Sanders and poll numbers

[UMTerp01]

While Sanders actually sounds quite a bit like Trump in touting national poll numbers (pretty much the only thing they have in common), Josh, Maria, and Jonathan all nailed it in terms of the fact that Hillary Clinton has been attacked for over 20 years. Bernie Sanders hasn't had the vitriol thrown at him for years the way Hillary Clinton has. 1 on 1 and I can already give you the Republican attack ads that will drag his poll numbers down. And this isn't even about who is more electable. Its the fact that these talking points just don't stick. Whatever is out there about Hillary is out there. Its not new. You either trust her or you don't. You either like her or you don't. Sanders is still an unknown commodity in terms of a national campaign for which some of his past comments will be run in attack ads and will drag his favorable numbers down, like with most candidates when it gets 1 on 1.

The whole thing about healthcare was a really good point. Senate and House Democrats don't want to litigate health care because it cost them big time before. One good news cycle on Sanders past Castro comments and women fantasizing about being raped and his poll numbers will take a fall too.

The point of it all being that touting general election poll numbers this far out while we are still in the primaries does not convince those of us cerebral folk who know what happens when a nominee is chosen, when a VP is chosen, when debates happen, when an October surprise can happen, etc. They mean NOTHING this far out!!

[DURHAM D]

1. Was this actually mentioned in the broadcast?

women fantasizing

[UMTerp01]

5. No but its been making the rounds for awhile on Twitter

Now in fairness, because I don't play GOP tactics the way some do with that Bill Clinton "shameful legacy" comment about Obama the way people have tried to do today insinuating that Bill was talking about Obama and not Republican obstructionism, he was discussing gender roles. But its going to be something he will have to explain and backtrack just like Obama had to explain and backtrack on Rev. Wright. Bottom line is that nothing has been thrown at him yet so touting national poll numbers at this point is misleading. And its the same when Hillary does it and its the same when Trump does it. Its like we repeat the same stupid things each election cycle.

[DURHAM D]

6. He can not backtrack on the rape fantasy problem.

It is in print.

[UMTerp01]

7. Right...but apparently the "Hillary camp" is hiding from him doing better vs Trump

I'm fairly consistent on this issue of touting poll numbers this far out. Its wrong for all of them to do it, but Sanders has been doing it repetitively lately. When Hillary was doing it awhile ago it was dumb. When Trump does it its dumb. There are too many factors that will happen between now and election day that will influence national poll numbers, which AGAIN DON'T DECIDE THE PRESIDENCY....THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE DOES!!! Ugh!!!!

[Her Sister]

10. votes are the ultimate poll!!!

and HRC has had the most votes! of all candidates in both sides!

[charlyvi]

12. These useless polls are all he has

to maintain his narrative. He isn't winning in the popular vote, he isn't winning in delegates, yet he must at all costs avoid being perceived as a "loser". So how does he do that? He constantly quotes favorable polls! As I said, it's all he has left.

[stopbush]

2. The word "communist" would be heard from sea to shining sea

were BS to get the nomination. The nuances between socialist and communist would never be heard.

Bernie's life story is a RW attack ad that writes itself. It would not be pretty.

And, there would also be the "Democrats nominated a communist who wants to raise your taxes, take away your healthcare and use your hard-earned money to give lazy people the life of Riley."

It would ruin the Party.

[msongs]

3. I doubt the word "communist" means much except to middle and upper age groups nt

[stopbush]

4. You mean the majority of voters?

Small consolation.

[Her Sister]

11. lol!

exactly!

[Dawson Leery]

8. Democrats will not reopen healthcare.

There are other things that capital needs to be spent on.

[KitSileya]

9. Yeah, they have a whole plethora of spin they haven't used yet.

Every proper Democrat knows that the republicans never do the Dems any favors without planning to stab them in the back. The only reason they're holding off on attacking Sanders is because it fits their plans. They'll point to his writings from the '70s and call him a pedophile and a rapist. They'll dig into his family history and call him a deadbeat dad. They'll look into his work history and call him a lazy bum who didn't work until he was 40, and only then because he got elected to a cushy government office. They'll point to his support of politically oppressive regimes, like Cuba and the Soviet Union. It would be carnage, and Sanders would be torn to shreds.

Let's face it, Sanders has been pretty well insulated from Republican attacks so far. The republican party in Vermont is nothing like the national party. When the republicans have attacked Democrats in the past, he wasn't part of them - he was a independent with no power from a tiny state, and therefore not worth attacking. In fact, his own attacks on the Democrats probably protected him in a 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' kind of manner. No, the Sanders supporters don't know what they'll be facing if by magic Sanders would get the nomination.

[charlyvi]

13. Honeymoon in Moscow anyone?

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. Agreed on all counts. n/t

[CalvinballPro]

15. New Sanders strategy: Repeat the word "momentum" over and over. nt