[trigger warning: Huffpo and MSNBC]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/06/bernie-sanders-campaign_n_7224630.html?1430935196

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is hiring a crew of former aides to President Barack Obama to help propel his recently launched presidential campaign.

Coming on the heels of a highly successful campaign launch, after which Sanders raised $3 million in four days, the announcement is an indication that Sanders, a self-described socialist, won’t be confined simply to a long-shot role in the Democratic primary.

The independent senator, who is running for president as a Democrat, has hired the firm Revolution Messaging to run digital ads and online fundraising. The staffers with the firm who will be working on Sanders’ campaign include Revolution Messaging’s founder, Scott Goodstein, who ran the 2008 Obama campaign's social media and mobile programs; Arun Chaudhary, who was the first official White House videographer; Shauna Daly, who served as deputy research director on Obama’s 2008 campaign; and Walker Hamilton, who was a lead programmer for that campaign.

For perspective he raised more in the first 24hrs than Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, or Ted Cruz. Only candidate not running with a super pac. Meaning he is not being funded by anonymous major corporations or billionaires (ala Ted Cruz being funded by Robert Mercer, who owes the IRS billions, and coincidentally Ted Cruz now wants to disband the IRS)

The more I hear from Sanders the more I'm starting to really like him. Media has been writing him off under the assumption that he can't beat Hilary but I'm thinking he's going to give her a good run for her money.

>self described socialist

I'm doubting his viability in a general election.

Which is fair enough. They'd definitely try to paint him as muh communists just looking by what happened to Obama. But on the issues he polls pretty closely to most Americans. Against Citizens United. Against defunding Social Security and Medicare. Pro single payer for Health Care. Pretty populist positions. I think he'll gain popularity in the debates.

Quote from: Meta Cognition on May 06, 2015, 02:03:27 PM

Quote from: Icy on May 06, 2015, 01:59:21 PM

So is Rubio in the grand scheme of things.

Which is why I'd prefer Bush.

Eh

Quote

Hell, or even Colin Powell.

Meta, please. Let's be realistic here.

Still seems to be bad blood between Powell and the right after he supported Obama over McCain. Doesn't seem interested in politics anymore from what I've seen. Bush is probably running, and stands a good shot at taking the nomination.

I like the sound of him.

Quote from: Naoto on May 06, 2015, 02:13:46 PM

Quote from: Icy on May 06, 2015, 02:08:43 PM

Quote from: Naoto on May 06, 2015, 02:07:49 PM

Bush is probably running, and stands a good shot at taking the nomination.

No he doesn't.

Conservatives love going with the next in line guy even if they don't really like him (McCain, Romney)
He's definitely going to be the Hilary of their side if he joins in that its his to lose really.

Conservatives also are going further and further right during the primaries, and hate the connotation of "Bush" after the glorious terms of the last one.

If anything, it's gonna be a run between Paul v. Cruz in the end of the primary.

What you don't like Huckabee's chances ;^)

They'll tear Cruz apart before they let the dems do it. I see them moving slightly more towards center this round tbh. Paul will make a good challenge. They usually end up with the establishment 'moderate' (again McCain, Romney). Social conservatives like sweatervest guy and huckabee tend to be also rans.

If anything, it's gonna be a run between Paul v. Cruz in the end of the primary.

No way Rand will make it through the primaries considering his foreign policy stances. Not to mention, I doubt the party hierarchs will be happy with a Cruz nomination.