nor are Bernie supporters. If you think people post here to convert DUers, you are incredibly naive. And you don't understand the point of the OP.

It's not about what we say to each other. It is him drawing Hillary in and forcing her to treat him as her equal. That is where the distinction is made clear and where the non-ardent voters could move.

He has to be truthful. You can't run against Wall-street and influence of money in politics, and not mention the politicians who carry the water for these interests. As hard as its to hear, Clinton and other democrats who take huge amount of money from business interests are tied down by these interests just like the Republicans.

He has no problem in calling out Koch brothers, but why not Clinton who probably will raise more money than any Republican.

He doesn't need to. Hillary's voluminous corporate-friendly record speaks for itself. Bernie's 50 years of activism plus a long list of progressive legislation in the House then the Senate speaks for itself. The difference couldn't be more stark and I think most people are astute enough to recognize that.

That clarity will not get through.

There are a lot disaffected people out there who are turned off because of the same old pre-canned candidates who will say anything in order to get elected knowing full well that once they get in they'll jump to the corporate maters' tune. And then there's Bernie who is the antithesis of all that with a LONG record to back up everything he is saying.

Now, the Masters of the Universe recognizing Bernie is a real threat IS something to be very worried about. They've got all the Big Artillery and all we have is us, feet on the ground, and a groundswell recognition that something has to change or our Democracy will be forever lost. That's powerful stuff in and of itself and has been the basis for every social and economic revolution for centuries.

She's had Hillary on her mind a long time. When I approached her with some Bernie "logic", she had that sound that means she might change her mind.

Just the facts.

Bernie does what he does and he ignores everyone who says that can't be done. He just goes about his business like it can be done and he does it.

And HRC is nothing if not the status quo.

not that distinctions can't be drawn, but I think that people will get the point that Hillary is part of the problem, without much help from Bernie.

Remember, all Bernie has to do is win Iowa.

If he does that, he will win New Hampshire, and people will really start to pay attention.

Hillary had the money to work only for Super Tuesday. She already did the national primary campaign in 2008. I'm not sure Bernie can rely on early victories to turn the tide.

President Scott Walker is the last thing that we want.

I am not talking mortal blows. I am talking direct distinctions by name. Not slander and scandal. Comparison of records and positions. He needs to be seen as her equal, and can't do that nationally until they directly engage. Maybe it won't happen until the first debate.

I think that the comparisons are inevitable.

I trust Bernie's ability to handle this.....he does need to maximize his poll numbers in both Iowa and New Hampshire to prevent Hillary from discovering a "scheduling conflict" on the day of the first debate.

the Media. This is what money buys as well as promises and obligations.
We all have to try to get the word out on him and hope he gets a lot a air time from people.

Look at the primary fight in 2008 and how bad things got between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. No matter who ended up winning the nomination they would have won the GE.

They announced this before anyone else declared for the Democratic nomination. The campaigning leading up to Super Tuesday will take its toll upon resources and the candidates themselves.

and let Hillary Clinton torpedo her own ship. She's doing it handily a la Mitt Romney already.

He certainly shouldn't follow the Hillary 2008 model. Talk about desperate.

So many Sanders supporters say hhere he is not known yet and if he goes negative that is what many will remember him for.

Bad idea.

I'm not suggesting he call her names or even hint at the silly non-scandals or sexism or any of that nonsense.

It would be negative in the vein: Secretary Clinton, when in the Senate, voted X, I voted Y. Here's why. As Secretary she did X, which I opposed. It could be done respectfully, but in a way that would force her to respond and debate him.

That's what is preventing him from gaining on her. She just ignores him and acts as if there is no competitor. It's early and hopefully that dynamic will change organically, but if he is to make real movement, I think it has to be by getting her to engage with him. He can only do that by getting her attention. He started to with the TPP comments. I hope to see more and soon.

And i think she is right to ignore him. if she doesn't she gives him more coverage.

just draw differences between him and Hillary and still gain at this point. If there is to be negativity let her launch it first.

I believe him

He'll just stay a cute little speed bump on the road to her coronation otherwise. He doesn't have to be nasty about it, like you said. Its about the issues, and it would be great to get her engaged & get the public engaged as well...I totally agree.

Besides, what people like about Sanders is that he's not just another politician. Someone who will say anything to win and puts his personal ambitions above everything else.

I'd like to see more aggression towards the frontrunner who is his major obstacle.

But I don't think tearing down other people is something he believes in. And if he started doing that, it might be the first kind of ends-justify-the-means decision that starts him on the road to being the kind of politician we have way too many of to begin with.

I haven't chosen a candidate, but I think Sanders would a terrific president. He might be the only candidate that will oppose the massive surveillance state that we have, and that's a huge issue for me. But I don't think him going after Clinton or anyone else will increase his appeal.

I hear you and the others who want Bernie to stay positive only. And he will probably do just that. I just hope it is enough to get the attention he deserves.

I really, really don't want a negative primary. But if it's true that Sanders needs someone to damage Clinton in order to win, I think someone else has to do that--probably a different candidate. Going negative might hurt himself too much. I imagine quite a few people support him because he seems uncorrupted and clean. They may not like him so much about his stance on guns or immigration, as much as that he's not just fueled by ambition.

Others can do that just fine. He is doing a great job staying on point.

Against the Wall Street Barons who have absconded with our democracy ...

If Hillary gets dinged due to her closeness to Wall Street, well, that might be a problem ... Might not ...

How many half empty glasses of beer do you want to drink?

would not be compatible with her at all and he would be silenced. They are very different from each other. Very.

Let the facts do the talking.

Obama did the same thing. Nice words do not mean a damn thing.
People want a track record, the Senator has just that record. He's been fighting for the same things for decades. He doesn't need to poll test his policy or platform.
I for one am sick of the negative crap, I turn the channel or mute the teevee.

I agree: that will eventually be necessary. She.... sand the corporate press that favors her.... will ignore him otherwise, for obvious reasons.

However: 1. he's doing well so far; and 2. It's REALLY early yet.

One Facebook post led to 5000 in Denver. There is a lot more going on with Sanders than many want to admit at this point.

That certainly is NOT negative, it provides a contrast.

... it would be rightly seen as an act of desperation, and further marginalize his canidacy.

This will put Sanders in the same box as the rest of them.

She sunk her own ship the last time.

He has said he won't be negative, that's good enough for me.

he may fail to become a surrogate for many of his supporters.

I want Bernie to win. I want Hillary to lose. I think he has to get he to engage instead of coast.

He hasn't been able to so that yet, or hasn't tried. Hopefully he will sooner rather than later.

What if Bernie fails to criticize her the way you want him to?

I'm just following it like everyone else. Maybe Bernie's approach will work. I hope so. But I have doubts wether it will be enough.

Although he shouldn't be like Kerry in '04 and just blithely ignore swiftboat-style smears against him, he should remain focused in getting his message out and letting it speak for who he is.

If he gets into a snake-and-mongoose tussle with Clinton, that will become the news, not what his candidacy is about.

I don't see how it will be far enough.

Sanders seems to be a fighter to me and probably has a strategy for this.

I don't think he'll be like Kerry in '04 and just skip along the primrose path while being pelted with shit.

At least I hope he won't.

His stock is rising

Most people see him for what he is which is a good solid as a rock person with our (99%) better interest in mind
Bernie Sanders did not and will not use his position to enrich himself. That to me is most important. That means what he does is from the heart not for his wallet. He cares because he has children and grand children and more than likely great grand children who can benefit from the stand he takes and the issues he pushes.
I don't understand why anyone could have a first choice in someone else running. I'll vote Democratic no matter who wins the primary. Thats the way I, madokie, rolls.

Without being mean-spirited, he can calmly explain why he thinks his record is better. If he only talks about issues, he may fail to draw much of a distinction between himself and Clinton because Clinton is campaigning to the left of her record.

causes for voter apathy and low turnout. It's the most risky tactic and carries the greatest cost to the candidate using it.

It seems the East Coast loves that personal attack politics, most of the NE posters here focus on negative things and repetition of their list of dislikes. Some of the most negative are also, ironically very well off, some would say rich people. And all they do is kvetch. Do I respect the fortunate who whine and complain and claim to be struggling proles while making 30K a month? No I do not. Do you, really?

Negative as in contrast, not bicker. He needs that to draw Hillary out of her cruise control. He needs to be seen as her direct competition in the same ring.

fighting match in your wrestle/box sports. It's an election. I compete directly for employment far more often in life than most people. I do not think about my rivals, I think about my victory.
Your focus is split. Many of your objectives are about Hillary, when they should all be about Bernie. You are seeing him as a reflection of her, as an extension of your views of her. It's in the way.
Candidates in a primary, it is inevitable that they will be seen as being in direct competition, that is the inherent nature of the process. This is not a 'need' to pursue, it is a built in feature of the process.

I think Bernie needs to introduce himself to more people and win more votes. He does not need to focus on 'drawing Hillary out' of whatever characterization you have of her campaign. I suggest that Bernie does not see Hillary as being on 'cruise control' because he's a smart politician, he knows she is as well. She's making choices, not cruising, and he knows this.
Her advantages include her vast popularity and fame. Bernie is not as widely known. Right now, Bernie is introducing Bernie to people who already know Hillary. If he defines himself using Hillary as the contrast, all he is doing is saying 'This is all about Hillary of course and I'm a footnote here to also talk about Hillary'.
Also, it's a year until I vote in a Primary. A year.

That comment is so far out of reality. Not one thing Clinton is doing can be considered passive. Well, except her thought around the TPP. She is out there every single day going at it. No form of the word "passive" can be use with respect to how she is working the primary.

When people go negative on Hillary, she becomes more popular. Sanders is smart enough to know this is a bad idea. At the same time, he will slowly bring contrast between he and Hillary into his campaign. Probably much closer to the debates. That is not going negative when he includes himself in the message.

"If Bernie is serious about winning"

A little surprised to see this comment from someone supporting Sanders. You still aren't even sure if he is serious.

that would be incredibly stupid. He needs to directly criticize her record and positions, calling her by name. Not invoke the stupid shit. Not slander or talk of scandals, no mudsling.