Is America ready for socialism? Or, at least, could one of America’s major parties nominate a self-described socialist?
I have my own reservations about whether Bernie Sanders really belongs in the “socialist” category. Either way, the new Des Moines Register poll has him in the lead for the Democratic nomination. It’s a very big deal.
Sanders now stands at 20%, followed closely by Elizabeth Warren (17%), Pete Buttigieg (16%), and Joe Biden (15%). It’s close enough that any of those four candidates could win in Iowa. And, unlike on the Republican side, Iowa has been consistently choosing Democratic nominees since 2000, when it chose Al Gore over Bill Bradley.
Sanders is unique in that his geographic appeal and his ideological appeal could help him win in both of the early states, Iowa and New Hampshire. This would set him up as a formidable foe to former Vice President Joe Biden headed into South Carolina, where Biden leads.
If Sanders succeeds in knocking out the other left-winger, Elizabeth Warren, then Democrats’ grassroots energy will easily be with Sanders against Biden. We could end up with another fight like that of 2016, but this time Sanders would arguably have the upper hand against the establishment candidate.
