Story highlights Nevada Democrats signaled a preference for realism over revolution

It blunted Bernie Sanders' momentum, writes Errol Louis

To pull off a 'political revolution,' Sanders needs to show his policies are possible, Louis says

Errol Louis is the host of "Inside City Hall," a nightly political show on NY1, a New York all-news channel. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his.

(CNN) Bernie Sanders and his followers have every right to feel energized by his second-place finish in Nevada: Only a few weeks ago, Sanders was more than 20 points behind Clinton, and yet he managed to build momentum, swiftly close the gap and nearly overtake her. But things didn't break his way, for reasons that could prove to be fatal to his presidential hopes: Economically hard-pressed voters in Nevada chose Clinton's experience and electability over the soaring hopes and class-warfare rhetoric of Sanders.

"Americans are right to be angry. But we're also hungry for real solutions," Clinton said in her victory speech -- a not-so-subtle jab at Sanders for putting forward sweeping proposals including free college tuition for all, free healthcare for all and a national hike in the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Sanders' promised programs didn't carry the day with Nevada voters, and that's a problem for him. Nevada's minimum wage is $8.25 (or $7.25 if the employer provides health insurance), meaning that a jump to $15 would boost wages, in theory, by an eye-popping 82%. But voters in Nevada -- including a ton of lower-wage workers like taxi drivers, blackjack dealers, chambermaids and food servers -- chose Clinton, who favors a smaller increase to $12 per hour.

Here's another way of looking at it. According to The New York Times, "the top issue for Democrats caucusing in Nevada is the economy and jobs, which was mentioned by one-third of respondents." If Sanders can't close the deal with those kinds of voters in a state as economically troubled as Nevada, it suggests he may have a hard time selling his program in other parts of the country.

Sanders' slashing attacks on Wall Street were also expected to resonate in Nevada, which led the nation in the rate of foreclosures for five years in a row at the height of the recent housing crisis. But here again it was Clinton, who has accepted millions in speaking fees from Wall Street investment firms, who succeeded with Nevada voters.