It is amazing how many view the Sanders campaign in terms of conventional politics. In terms of conventional politics a case can be made that Clinton won the debate. She was the more polished performer and the most presidential stylistically. She attacked Sanders on gun control and drew some blood. Sanders didn't go after Clinton when he could have but instead protected her by defusing the email question. By the logic of conventional politics Clinton should be the winner.
But Sanders is not really running against Clinton. His campaign is running against the oligarchy and he wants to build a political movement based on his core beliefs and values to overthrow the oligarchy in this election or in the near future. He knows that an outsider like himself can never create such a movement or beat Clinton by being a conventional candidate, speaking in lofty tones and employing conventional tactics.
The only way Bernie can win is to offer himself as a steadfast champion of working people and the middle class to lead their fight against the corrupt establishment. To do this he hammers his talking points relentlessly. He speaks with conviction in simple narratives and in short declarative and exclamatory sentences. He is totally focused on his core themes. Any negative attack on Hillary or practice of conventional politics will detract from this focus. The total effect of being persuaded by his speech is called "Feeling the Bern." And it creates loyal followers of people who experience it.
Sanders is offering his candidacy as a vehicle for the working and middle classes, white and people of color to lead their fight against the oligarchy. He believes if his campaign resonates with the working and middle classes he will start a movement that will be a political tidal wave and change the political paradigm.
You may view Sanders and his campaign as hopelessly naive but these are unusual times. He is half way there, at least in the Democratic Party. Few thought he would get this far. Whether he can get the rest of the way depends on whether there is enough hurt in the working and middle classes for them to respond to his offer to be their champion. Only time will tell but if the post debate focus groups are a true indication of voter sentiment, Sanders may have won the debate.