Rivals in big effort to derail frontrunner Sanders
Bernie Sanders has spent much of his career on the political margins, an outsider looking in.
Now, the protest politician is learning what it’s like to be the frontrunner for a major political party.
Sanders was the target of persistent attacks in yesterday’s Democratic presidential debate, both from his more moderate rivals and the competitor closest to him philosophically, Senator Elizabeth Warren. He faced granular questions about the cost and scope of his sweeping domestic policy agenda. His leadership credentials were challenged and his temperament tested like no time in his career. ‘‘I’ve been hearing my name mentioned a little bit tonight. I wonder why?’’ Sanders quipped.
The pile-on indeed reflected the new reality of the Democratic race for the White House. Riding a wave of enthusiasm among young voters and the strength of an increasingly diverse coalition, Sanders has won two of the first three contests and effectively tied in the third. He’s competing aggressively in South Carolina, which votes at the weekend, and could pull away from the field in the all-important delegate lead in next week’s Super Tuesday contests.
For Sanders, this is new political terrain. He’s spent 40 years in politics as an agitator and an outsider. He’s run for office as an independent and is a loner on Capitol Hill. He prides himself on being ideologically rigid and has been willing to criticise Democratic leaders, including former President Barack Obama, for what he’s seen as politically expedient compromises. Now, he’s poised to become the Democratic standard-bearer, and the party’s pick to take on President Donald Trump in November.
His rivals tried to engineer a shift in the trajectory of the race in yesterday’s debate.
Former Vice President Joe Biden challenged Sanders’ effectiveness as a lawmaker, saying, ‘‘Bernie, in fact, hasn’t passed much of anything.’’
Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, accused Sanders of moving the goalposts on the costs of his sweeping policy proposals, including a ‘‘Medicare for All’’ health insurance system.
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg charged that Sanders would not only lose to Trump, but his nomination would result in a ‘‘catastrophe’’ for Democratic House and Senate candidates running in more moderate states and districts. ‘‘Can anybody in this room imagine moderate Republicans going over and voting for him?’’ Bloomberg asked.
Even Warren, a friend and ideological partner of Sanders, took him on vigorously for the first time, finally giving in to supporters who have urged her to explicitly cast herself as the more progressive candidate. ‘‘Bernie and I agree on a lot of things, but I think I would make a better president than Bernie,’’ Warren said.
Sanders was prepared for the onslaught. When faced with questions about his electability, he rattled off polls showing him beating Trump in a head-to-head contest. When pressed about the feasibility of his pricey, government-backed policy agenda, he said it was a misconception that his policies were radical.
The offensive came as a relief to supporters of Sanders’ rivals, who have been raising alarms about his prospects in the general election and warning that time is running out to block his path to the nomination. –