This AP story says Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) will decide by March 2015 whether to run for President in 2016. It also says he will decide whether to run for the Democratic nomination, or as an independent.
Presumably Senator Sanders knows that if he runs as an independent he can’t receive primary season matching funds from the federal government, but he can receive them if he says he is seeking the nomination of any party, no matter how small. Also, Sanders probably knows that if he ran as an independent, he would face the challenge of getting on the ballot in all 50 states, whereas the Green Party is currently ballot-qualified in twenty states, including five of the nation’s seven most populous states. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.
From the article:
Either way, Sanders says he wouldn’t run just to nudge the debate to the left.
“I don’t want to do it unless I can do it well,” he told The Associated Press. “I don’t want to do it unless we can win this thing.”
What this tells me is that he is not running — as a Democrat or a Green or an independent. This Bloomberg article seems to suggest that his nonverbal communication is saying the same thing.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/features/2014-12-19/what-kind-of-revolutionary-exactly-is-bernie-sanders
I’m afraid Sanders is playing the leftist side of the game Donald Trump plays every 4 years. Trump is always talking about running, then backs out at the last minute.
On the other hand, Sanders as an Independent candidate would give Hillary Clinton a challenge for that Democratic base that got Bill the plurality victory in 1992, and that has always supported the Democratic nominee. Don’t know how well known he is nationally, but he will have to run a strong campaign and make Hillary a “fake” liberal who is playing both sides against the middle. Former Senator Eugene McCarthy tried to to this in 1976, but the establishment was opposed to him, keeping him off the New York State Ballot which was crucial.
But if Sanders can convince the middle youth – most of whom were in diapers 20 years ago to support him, he would carry the strongest Independent run from the left since 1980. He is a better campaigner since Ralph Nader was in 2000, even though Nader is more of a common man’s liberal.
The key is based on 3 things: (1) Does Sanders really want to run (2) Will he get the financing he needs, and (3) will the Democratic middle support him. If the answer to all three of those questions are yes, then we’ll see the strongest 3 way race since l980.
I hope he runs. But, I’ve been disappointed before.
“I’m afraid Sanders is playing the leftist side of the game Donald Trump plays every 4 years. Trump is always talking about running, then backs out at the last minute.”
The same can be said about Jesse Ventura.
Go Green, Bernie. (Paragraph) Hillary already has the Democrat nomination. You have to start all over as an Independent and 80 percent of your time and money to get on the ballot. (Both Wallace and Anderson said if they had to do it over again they would have skipped at least 5 states where they had the least support.) The Green Party is already on the ballot on 20 state and you can get on the ballot in 20-25 more. You’d get at least five percent of the vote, and have an outside chance of taking some states, like Vermont and Alk.
Yes, you are right, but Trump seems to be more believable than Jesse Ventura because he has the $$ to do it with. Just when you think you are going to see political history made, Trump pulls the rug out from under us.
Jesse Ventura, in my opinion, could have ran for a 2nd term for Governor and been elected, but his mouth insulted many people of Faith, who by the way were among those many thousands who voted for him. But once he made those terrible remarks, it was hard to forgive him and trust him after that.
Likewise, I believe if Ventura had not offended people of Faith with some of his comments, but had ran for U.S. Senator the year Senator Wellstone ran for re-election, and was tragically killed before the General Election, Ventura could have appointed himself to not only fill out the remaining Wellstone term, but would have been popular enough to win as a 3rd party candidate for a 2nd time.
Admittedly, it was a commendable move on Ventura’s part to name Dean Barkley to finish out Wellstone’s term, but another scenario, would have been for him to resign as governor, let, Lt. Governor Mae Schunk appoint Ventura U.S. Senator, and also appoint Dean Barkley as Lt. Governor – unless the Minnesota Constitution required Legislative approval to appoint a lt. governor replacment.
Still, Ventura, in my opinion, lost some opportunities that would have made 3rd parties more noticeable and appreciated in Minnesota.
Today, even if Ventura were serious about a 3rd party run for the Presidency, I don’t think the people would take him serious.
Yes, it would be more practical for Sanders to ask for the Green Party nomination. (The Libertarian Party has more ballot positions to offer, but there is that great philosophical divide which I doubt could be overcome). The remaining ballot positions would be easier – like the 5000 signatures for Alabama – could be done by UAB students in a matter of weeks. And 5 percent of the national vote would put a serious hurt on Clinton, with or without Sanders carrying Vermont and Alaska.
If the “Wallace” you are referring to is George Wallace, I too have to agree that had Wallace – while still needing to get on all 50 state ballots in order to be taken seriously – should have during the last 1 month before the General Election – campaigned solely in the Southern States and put more time in Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Virginia, and I believe he would have definitely won most of those states, and along with the states he did win, would have thrown the election into the House of Representatives.
I don’t think Wallace could have pulled Florida out, even though he gave Humphrey a close run for 2nd place. Republicans in Florida are born into Republican families, while most Republicans in the other deep south states, are “converted Republicans.”
I hope Sanders runs “independent” even though philosophically, I would have to grit my teeth to vote for him because of differences on some issues. But if he runs, he will definitely make Hillary have to work for the Presidency even if she eventually pulls it out – rather than being coronated, as some seem to think she should be.
Run, Bernie, Run!
How many $$$ BILLIONS/TRILLIONS will B.S. get directly and indirectly from the Elephants to DIVIDE and CONQUER the Donkeys – IF he runs ???
See 1992 — the Perot stunt stuff.
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P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
Perot in 1992 was not a stunt – but a “know it all” billionaire who would not listen to his key advisers. Otherwise,he might have gotten elected in 1992 with a plurality of popular votes.
Ross Perot lost in 1992, because Ross Perot would not listen to anyone except Ross Perot.
Bernie Sanders is smart enough to run a strong candidacy and could run circles around Hillary’s phony liberalism. But he needs money to do it, and a media that will give him a fair break. And of course, he must be included in the Debates.
Again, I say, Run, Bernie, Run!
Bernie should run as Green Party
Green Party Voter: I agree, the most practical party for Sanders to run under is the Green Party. He’s only spinning his wheels in the Democratic Primaries, as the party establishment will remove all obstacles to anyone upsetting Hillary Clinton’s coronation.
You’re already on the ballot – including some large states like New York and California – in about 20 states according to Richard Winger, and you can get the remaining states with relative ease – especially with a well-known name as Bernie Sanders.
What you folks need to do NOW is start a “Draft Bernie Sanders” campaign, and build that campaign to a crescendo that Bernie cannot resist. He might get only 5 or 7 percent of the national vote, but if it’s enough to defeat Hillary Clinton, then its worth it all.
Please note, I’m not a Republican. I just want to see Hillary Clinton defeated. One Bill was enough. Two would be a disaster. Whichever Republican won, I’d most likely be against him or her.
I think Sanders has at least two more years of his Senate term, and if and when the Democrats take back the Senate, all they can do is strip him of his committee appointments. But the people of Vermont will re-elect him as their Independent Senator as long as he wants it.
Run, Bernie, Run!