Any one that doesn’t realize that Bernie Sanders will have crossover appeal, I feel, is either not paying attention or in denial. He has appeal that reaches WELL beyond Democrats to independents and yes, even Republicans. He received over half of the Republican write in votes.
Against certain candidates (Trump — Cruz maybe others) I feel he will earn real support.
Hillary got 540 write ins on the Republican side as well which tells me they have some trouble with their many CANDIDATES.
From the Washington Post.
The write-in totals for the primary, released by New Hampshire's secretary of state Thursday, find that well more than half of Republican write-in votes were cast for Sanders, and 540 more were cast for former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. No other candidate, or "candidate" came close; Kanye West, the rapper and producer who has threatened to run for president in 2020, earned just one write-in vote. None of this surprised the Sanders campaign.
And…
"He gets a significant Republican vote in Vermont, about 20 percent in the last Senate election," said spokesman Michael Briggs. "There was a Castleton University poll last year in Vermont that showed him tied for the lead among Republican White House hopefuls."
Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 · 3:13:52 AM +00:00
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greenmoutainboy
Update
Since this diary is about electability. It has not been said in many places but as near as I can see Bernie Sanders won more votes in the New Hampshire Primary then any candidate of either party in history by a lot. 151,578 + 2095 = 153,673. The next closest candidate ever I believe was Hillary Clinton in 2008 with 112,404. We will assume Hillary got some write ins that year on Repug side. Bernie Sanders received 40,000 more votes in the New Hampshire then any candidate from ANY party in history. Also Hillary received 17,000 votes less this year then 2008. I think we can blame that on DWS for having 17 less debates and two less debates in New Hampshire. I believe this is impressive and being overlooked by many. I would think that Mr Sanders has had not a great deal of coverage by the MSM unless I am mistaken. Please researchers check me on this stuff I may be wrong but I think not.
I think that was an impressive turnout for Mr Sanders and perhaps foreshadowing.