Rubio is in third place in Iowa right now, firmly behind Cruz and Trump, according to RealClearPolitics’ polling average.
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But it’s more than that. Two polls in early January marked a turn-around for Sanders, showing him beating Clinton for the first time since September. But with opportunity comes a giant challenge: Many of those who flock to see the GOP candidate are not registered to vote, or they are not registered Republicans.
He also said that organizations that allow their members to vote on endorsements – including MoveOn.org – are actually supporting him.
Sanders’ growing legion of supporters has him positioned for possible victories in the Iowa caucuses February 1 and New Hampshire’s primary February 9.
With the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire coming up quickly, the rivalries between Hillary Clinton vs. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump vs. Ted Cruz are getting uglier by the day. “My sense is that Bernie is on my side”. Other than Clinton and Sanders, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is the only other major Democratic candidate. The Vermont senator is leading Clinton 51-43 percent in Iowa State.
Meanwhile, the national media allows her to get away with such a strategy by not asking what separates her from Sanders.
In retrospect, the moment showcased how Sanders has managed to build a movement: His discipline and relentless focus on his economic message have kept his potential supporters from matching his and Clinton’s resumes and accomplishments issue-for-issue.
He’s holding three events in New Hampshire on Sunday, including at an AFC Championship watch party with New England Patriots fans.
“I am pretty proud of that”, he said. Take on big money interest. “His opinion isn’t bought”. Hillary Clinton, or the Foundation, has received $6.5 million from Goldman Sachs, an investment banking firm that is pure anathema to the ultra-left.
“You were kind enough to bail out Wall Street when their greed and illegal behavior helped destroy our economy”, Sanders said to loud cheers. Booker and Clinton also attended services together Sunday morning at a predominantly black church.
But Sanders’ idealism has charmed some Democratic voters. “So I’ll say ‘Isn’t he a wonderful guy?”
The Democratic presidential candidates’ theories are driven in part by necessity – Sanders’ has undeniable energy heading into the final week of campaigning in Iowa, while Clinton has a massive field operation that’s been on the ground for almost a year. But there’s frustration over the Asia-Pacific trade deal and the president’s years of dawdling over the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Sanders views the world as a connected string of injustices; he believes the country would be better under a socialist government that provides everything for the masses for free and bills the middle class and the wealthy. “And he never will, and he never will, and he never will, but that’s OK, because we have to do something folks, because it’s not working”, he added. But he got his foothold in the state later than Clinton, who has had professional staff in the state since last spring.
“Look, I was the best thing that ever happened to Bernie Sanders, because my attack on Hillary – all of a sudden she went down, and Sanders got all the credit for it, right?”
“We can’t wait”, Clinton said.
Caleb Cady, a 22-year-old student at Hawkeye Community College, said Sanders was indeed popular with young voters.
But Sanders’ team is aware that his good month in Iowa raises the stakes for a strong finish.
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“Only in Iowa. I love it”, the Bettendorf Democrat said afterward.
