Whether you follow the liberal media or watch the Republican debates, it would be easy to think that Hillary Rodham Clinton is running unopposed in the Democratic Party’s primary. Yet it is has now been reported the Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has matched Clinton in campaign fundraising. Sanders’ campaign has reported raising $26 million in the past quarter and has more than that in cash on hand. Clinton is also out-spending Sanders 2 to 1. Between Sanders’ fundraising miracle and his ever-growing crowds, Clinton is starting to feel the Bern.
Clinton fans are reliving their nightmare from the 2008 season all over again. This election is proving that voters are indeed fed up with Washington, and both liberals and conservatives want an outsider to come in and fix the government. Liberals want free universal health care; conservatives want smaller government now. Subscribers of both parties are looking for their hero and are looking outside the beltway to find it. The success of Donald Trump and Ben Carson should alone prove that point.
Yet look at Sanders. He is a self-described socialist. He rails against corporations and income inequality, and he advocates for the most liberal of causes. His views are seen as signs of bravery and share in the anger the left has at the perceived unfairness in this country. His rallies are turning people out by the tens of thousands, while Clinton can barely muster a thousand in her once home state of Arkansas. Her campaign is overshadowed by controversy. Benghazi, questionable foundation donations and criminal investigations into her email usage have caused many liberals to question her viability.
Two things measure viability in campaigns: polling and fundraising. This is why the Republican pool is draining quickly. How much longer can local favorite Mike Huckabee can stay in the fight? Clinton’s viability problem is also leading current Vice President Joe Biden, the long-standing center of many a political jokes, to enter the race. Without even announcing, Biden’s polling is significant. Sanders’ fundraising is pretty much from small-time donors, those giving less than $100. The big donors are sticking by Clinton for now, but with Biden in the race, their loyalty to her will be challenged.
Clinton still has two things going for her. The first is Biden’s personality. It is almost guaranteed he will make serious gaffes. The second is Sanders’ belief that super PACs are corrupt and his refusal to create one. Sanders’ ethics will most certainly prevent him from ever stepping foot in the White House, much less win the Democratic party nomination.
The Sanders-Clinton-Biden story is a great sign for the Republicans. The average age of these leading Democrats is 71. Republicans, on the other hand, have fielded over a dozen candidates. The diversity of the candidates, including their backgrounds and demographics, shows the ever-growing appeal of the right. People want change — the one thing then-candidate Obama got right. Unfortunately for Obama and his party, the change the people want is not more government intruding in their life but freedom from the oppressive beltway career politicians.
Bill Vickery is a political consultant and appears on Political Plays on KARK on Friday mornings. Listen to him on The Sunday Buzz from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on 103.7 The Buzz.