Bernie Sanders has now confirmed that he wants to be the Democratic candidate in the 2020 presidential elections.
In 2016, US progressives were disappointed when Sanders ‘lost‘ the Democratic primary race to Hillary Clinton. Since then, there’s been ongoing speculation as to whether Sanders would throw his hat in to challenge Trump in 2020. And with hints in recent days that he would, progressives have been showing their excitement.
Leaked video and staff hiring spree
On 16 February, Sanders recorded a video stating his intention to run for president. This came as news broke that his office was interviewing people for open positions, implying he was in the process of building campaign staff.
Progressives from across the Twittersphere have been posting messages of support and encouragement.
Minnesota state senator Shawn Olson posted a cartoon that posed Sanders as the representation of love against Trump as the personification of hate:
This is going to be our choice in November 2020#RunBernieRun! pic.twitter.com/YxTmsuMAbU
— Shawn Olson 🔥 (@OOOlson) February 18, 2019
Socialist activists, meanwhile, pledged their support. And they cautioned against efforts by centrists to marginalize him:
@BernieSanders recorded a potus campaign announcement video & centrists are hard at work trying to marginalize him. Should @DemSocialists endorse his campaign? Matt talks to @EmmaCaterineDSA of DSA's Socialist Majority Caucus, who says YEP!https://t.co/apx4RloByy
— Solidarity House Cooperative (@HouseSolidarity) February 18, 2019
UK Labour MP Chris Williamson also sent some support from across the Atlantic, giving a vision of a new and different ‘special relationship’ between the US and Britain:
Imagine @BernieSanders in the White House and @jeremycorbyn in 10 Downing St. That's a special rerelationship I for one would love to see.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one!Just remember, together anything is possible.https://t.co/t77boFAnWw via @politico
— Chris Williamson (@DerbyChrisW) February 16, 2019
Some Twitter users pointed out how extensive meddling from the Democratic Party and media establishments affected his nomination chances in 2016:
Here they go lying about #Bernie2016 and POC. I'm a BERNER for BERNIE. I BERN FOR LIFE! #Bernie2020 #CoChairNation!https://t.co/97wMrO8aZ0
— Keep Winning, America! #TimWalz (@LostDiva) February 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/bourgeoisalien/status/1095336610793545731
To be sure, there were a few skeptics and critics of the idea:
The top 10 of Bernie Sanders' highest paid staffers ….they were all men.
That's not the record I want going in to the White House after 2020
I am not working my ass off for more of the same.
This is not the best we can do.
— RiotWomenn (@riotwomennn) February 17, 2019
But others pointed out that he’s polling ahead of many other candidates in the Democratic Party field, and has considerable momentum for a 2020 run:
https://twitter.com/31WA/status/1096257929173299200
Bernie Sanders has the most durable and active base of supporters out anyone. These folks are the donors and future super volunteers of the political revolution. They reside in all 50 states including Guam and Puerto Rico and they still #feelthebernhttps://t.co/7zFzb59XAN
— Fred (@WaywardWinifred) February 16, 2019
Indeed, in the aftermath of Trump’s election in 2016, polls consistently found Sanders to be the most popular politician in the whole US. Even a Fox News poll came to this conclusion.
Sanders 2020
Clearly, Sanders has momentum behind him. His progressive credentials may not be perfect. But he seems to stand head and shoulders over other candidates who carry the ‘centrist’ (read right-wing) baggage of the establishment wing of the Democratic Party. Furthermore, Sanders is best placed to hoover up Trump voters in ‘Middle America’ – some of whom voted for him in the Democratic primary only to switch to Trump in disgust at Clinton’s phoney progressivism.
With renewed interest in democratic socialism taking hold in the US (especially amongst young people), the time has come for a democratic socialist to run for the White House. And since this kind of politics represents the only genuine alternative to neoliberalism and right-wing populism, Sanders seems like the ideal person to take on Trump and overturn the status quo.
Featured image via Gage Skidmore and White House
