How Bernie Sanders running for president helps Hillary Clinton

[Gothmog]

I found this article to be interesting http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/04/bernie_sanders_running_for_president_helps_hillary_clinton_the_vermont_senator.html

If this continues to be the Vermont senator’s approach, Sanders will be more of a help to Clinton’s presidential chances than he will be to his own.

The first bonus that Sanders provides for Clinton, say her supporters, is that he becomes a foil. One of Clinton’s Democratic allies in Congress explained that with a country that prefers general election candidates closer to the middle, Sanders will always offer proof that Clinton is not really that far left. He does for Clinton what Howard Dean did for John Kerry in 2004.....

In 2012 Rep. Ron Paul and Mitt Romney had a symbiotic relationship in the Republican campaign. Paul elevated his own profile and gave his voters an outlet, but he never pointed out the yawning gaps between what he claimed to believe so deeply and the positions of the man who was on his way to being the party’s inevitable nominee. It’s way too early to see if Sanders will play the same role for Clinton, but it has started out that way.

Sanders is such a long shot that those who share his views might be OK with the consolation prize of imitation from Clinton. But if her move to the left is simply rhetorical, she can shed that rhetoric in the general election as candidates often do. This would be another reason for Sanders to press his case with more definition.

In 2014, Kerry did look very moderate compared to Howard Dean and Ron Paul did in effect work with Romney in 2012. I really think that having Sanders in the race will help HRC and get rid of the talking point that the primary process is a coronation. I remember the Ron Paul/Mitt Romney relationship in 2012 (Paul is from near my neck of the woods) and the two never directly attacked the other. Paul got increased exposure for his positions and Romney was made to look more reasonable.

[Thinkingabout]

1. Hillary will run on Hillary issues. She may point to some of the differences on the issues.

She does not need the Bernie prop, she has plenty of good positions. Besides, Bernie is too far left for me. Some of the issues like minimum wages, healthcare and Social Security are common issues. She has been a long time advocate on women's issues, this will continue. He has advocated for education starting with the very young. She knows this builds a good nation.

[Scootaloo]

3. Thinking about, I realize this isn't quite the place, but...

Could you come up with a thread somewhere about which if Sanders' positions are too far left, and why you feel that way? I'm rather curious.

[Thinkingabout]

4. I said he is too far left for me, you can choose to agree or not agree. you can choose to say

What you lil about Bernie's positions you like but probably not in this group.

[Scootaloo]

5. I was just hoping to learn more about what you're saying, is all.

have a nice day

[hrmjustin]

2. Thanks for posting this.

[Cha]

6. If "reasonable" is Romney lying his fool head off about the President every time he opened his mouth

than yeah.

We shall see what happens.. It still feels weird to me not have President Obama in the Election process.

Mahalo Gothmog

[Gothmog]

8. Mahalo Cha

Romney used Ron Paul in 2016 to look more reasonable and HRC should be able to benefit from the same tactic

[MoonRiver]

7. If Jim Webb gets in, he definitely won't let Bernie pull him to the left.

I predict a slug fest between the two, while Hillary looks like the sensible adult in the room, which of course she is and always has been.