I was browsing the headlines today and came across a USA Today article that gets at a very important issue in U.S. politics — trust and likability.

USA TODAY/Ipsos poll: For voters, Bernie Sanders outranks other Democrats — and Trump — on values, empathy. — USA Today.

In the realm of politics, how much voters trust a candidate is everything. People often seek out leaders who demonstrate a resolve to stick true to their values, even in the face of tremendous adversity.

Bernie Sanders has demonstrated that resolve, time and time again. Despite massive mainstream media bias against both his 2016 bid and his current attempt to win the Democratic nomination, he continues to march forward, carrying largely the same message that helped galvanize and inspire a political movement that hardly anyone foresaw.

Asked for their views on the personal characteristics of several Democratic presidential contenders and of President Donald Trump, voters consistently gave Sanders the highest marks for his values and empathy. — USA Today

This is a very important — and often overlooked — advantage, one that Sanders supporters shouldn’t hesitate to play up.

When it comes to the values at stake this next election cycle, whether or not a candidate is capable of demonstrating motivation from a compassionate and empathetic center is everything.

The American people are tired of a political system that seems to prioritize the needs of the wealthy and powerful over the needs of the common citizen.

Despite what people may think of the particulars regarding Sanders’ platform, he wins big on likability and trust. Not every American voter may agree with his approach to solving the issues, but they are willing to take a favorable view of him due to the consistency of character that he has demonstrated over the decades.

Democratic strategist Andrew Feldman said Sanders’ consistent messaging may help him on some measures related to trust. “Whether you like him or not, voters know where Bernie Sanders stands,” Feldman said. “He talks about systemic problems in a way that is really simple to understand. He doesn’t move off that messaging.” — USA Today

The simplicity of Sanders’ message is important in the current electoral climate for a number of reasons. Social media has given a wide array of perspectives a chance at finding an audience.

Trust in traditional media outlets has been waning, and the fake news epidemic that plagued the social media landscape during the 2016 election was successful in creating a chaotic informational environment that many found difficult to navigate.

In such murky waters, a simple message is critical for appealing to more traditional voters who have been slower to adjust to the changes brought about by our modern reliance on social media and the internet.

Sanders not only brings that simple message, but it comes packed with the sense that it stems from the empathy he has for his fellow citizens.

He has long been an advocate for tackling the systemic corruption that plagues our political system, eliminating the influence of big business from our elections, making sure that hard-won civil rights victories are not surrendered to modern manifestations of bigotry, and has stood firm on the need to meet climate change with a sense of urgency rather than with half-measures.

This positions Sanders as the candidate that stands the best chance at defeating Donald Trump in November.

But if character is on the ballot in November, the USA TODAY/Ipsos poll, conducted Wednesday through Thursday, shows Sanders has a clear advantage over the incumbent president. In the survey, 40% of voters said they admired Sanders’ character, well above the 26% who said they admired Trump. — USA Today

The office of the president is a symbolic position — one that demands a person who possesses a character capable of meeting the challenges that come with the title.

Given how heated the current U.S. political environment is, it’s hard for me to believe that facts and objectivity will rule the day as we draw nearer to the vote.

Instead, it will be a contest of narratives between the vision propagated by the Democratic Party nominee and his/her base, and the cult of personality that has grown up around Donald Trump.

Democratic voters would be wise to consider which of the many candidates still in the race can best earn the trust of American voters and appeal to their sense of empathy.

On those metrics, Bernie Sanders wins the day.