"I like everything Bernie Sanders says, but he can't win."

Too many Democrats are underestimating Bernie's popularity amongst independents and conservatives. He does fairly well amongst both groups in his home state of Vermont and his populist message has broad appeal.

There are millions of conservatives in this country that are upset with Wall Street, Middle Eastern wars, and have seen their jobs sent to China and elsewhere. His position on trade is going to play especially well in East Coast and Midwest where the manufacturing jobs have disappeared. In the Southeast, textiles and other industries have jettisoned for Asia. Southerners have lower incomes and large percentages of residents without health insurance. And money in politics is an issue that concerns the entire political spectrum. Absent Rand Paul, the GOP is going to be on the wrong side of this issue no matter who is their candidate.

Opinion polls target likely voters. Polls do not account for the voters that would usually stay home but will cast their vote if they don't think they are being lied to by politicians. Trust is a huge reason why people don't vote, perhaps the biggest. Couple that with someone talking about the issues that affect their daily lives and you'll see millions of people that typically don't vote dispense with their cynicism and mark their ballot.

An honest man is a dangerous thing in American politics. Bernie's message will resonate. It already has if his crowds are any indication.

I may sound like an idealist and that would be true, but an honest candidate with a populist message will carry a helluva lot of Democrats into Congress with him. Bernie will make the voters understand that if they want to go forward with his program, they will have to oust reactionary Republicans. Congressional approval hovers at around 10% - the public shouldn't be too hard to convince. And if Americans trust the man, then they'll believe he'll do what he says when he gets into office. An easy case will be made that intransigent Republicans will have to go.

When the football stadiums are filling up every week this fall and we start seeing more indicators that independents and conservatives are responding, I hope my fellow Democrats will start paying attention. They are certainly going to feel the shift when the universities are back in session at the same time the debates begin.

Bernie is going to kill them with this answer when they call him too radical:

https://youtu.be/...

As far as Sen. Sanders being too far left on the issues, take a look at this article from The Washington Post:

http://wapo.st/...

If we run an honest man on the issues, we'll expose the hollowness of the GOP platform. Conservatives will mobilize to vote against Hillary Clinton. Not only will Bernie capture some of those Republicans, but he'll demoralize the others when they see the size and energy of his crowds. Who are Republicans going to come out for? Jeb Bush? Scott Walker? I don't see it.

Hillary would probably win in a general by a few percentage points, but that would most likely mean the makeup of Congress wouldn't change in any appreciable way.

They've got a much bigger problem with Bernie. People underestimate an honest and passionate populist message. I just hope those people aren't Democrats.