Avowed Socialist Bernie Sanders is giving Hillary Clinton a run for her money.
Sanders (I-VT) is emerging as Clinton’s toughest competition for the Democratic nomination. This weekend, Sanders drew a crowd of about a thousand in Keene, New Hampshire, he polled within striking distance of Clinton in a Wisconsin straw poll, and analysts are starting to take notice.
In New Hampshire, Sanders told a crowd of hundreds that he intends to win the New Hampshire primary:
The underdog is starting to bark.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders boldly predicted Saturday that he would beat Democratic presidential rival and heavy favorite Hillary Clinton in the 2016 New Hampshire primary, expected to be in early February.
“Let me tell you a secret: we’re going to win New Hampshire,” Sanders told upwards of 1,000 supporters gathered in Keene, N.H., the Keene Sentinel reported.
And in Wisconsin, Sanders drew 41 percent to Clinton’s 49 percent in a straw poll among Democrats:
Hillary Clinton was the favorite of Wisconsin Democrats in a straw poll this weekend — but not by much.
She drew the support of fewer than half of the 511 delegate votes cast for the party’s presidential nomination at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention this weekend, and held a slim win over Democratic primary challenger Bernie Sanders.
Clinton had 252 votes, or 49% support, while the Vermont senator drew 208 votes, or 41% support, according to WisPolitics.com.
So where is all of this coming from? The Wall Street Journal notes it’s likely his authenticity—something Clinton lacks—that is drawing Democrat voters’ attention:
Mr. Sanders is a compelling speaker. He lays out clear positions, delivering them with conviction and energy. Mrs. Clinton is a cautious campaigner who has yet to unspool many of her policy positions. Should she waffle when it comes to controversial issues like free trade, she could look calculating and tepid in comparison to Mr. Sanders. Is that enough to deprive her of the Democratic nomination? Doubtful. But a strong debate performance by Mr. Sanders would only feed the Bernie Boomlet that has been playing out in Iowa and New Hampshire in recent weeks.