People won’t be voting for socialism; they’ll be voting for Bernie Sanders, one of the most popular politicians in the country, if not the most.
Hackneyed McCarthyite attacks will only work on Republicans and conservative-leaning swing voters. Republicans are going to vote for Trump regardless and swing voters only constitute roughly 10 million, or 7 percent of the electorate.
The voting age population grew by nearly 30 million from 2008 to 2016. 112 million people didn’t vote in the last election.
The way we win is by driving turnout among traditional non voters — not by capitulating to the same redbaiting conservatives have always done against Democrats, including Obama and Clinton. GW Bush even accused McCain of class warfare in 2000.
You point out that socialism is highly unpopular with Republicans. So what? Polls have found that about one fifth of Republicans have a positive view of socialism. To the extent that Republican votes are up for grabs for any Democrat, they likely come from among this group, no?
Furthermore, independents consistently outnumber those who identify as either party. Take a guess which candidate polls best among independents.
Lastly, if not Bernie, then who?
