Hillary Clinton drew her first official primary opponent yesterday after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced he will formally begin his bid for Democratic nomination.
The only avowed socialist in Congress, 73-year-old Sanders has aimed hardline rhetoric at Hillary. He labeled her as inimical to the interests of the working class and obligated to big-money special interests.
Sanders claims the United States has fallen into a crisis situation controlled by a “handful of billionaires.” He argues they have pushed income disparity between the rich and middle class Americans to “obscene levels,” Real Clear Politics reports.
Sanders’ shot at competing with Hillary’s millions is next to none. Some predict her raising millions, if not billions, of dollars in the upcoming election cycle.
However, the populist appeal of an anti-Wall Street message could force Hillary to make appeals to left wing democrats. Moving left would prevent those voters from going independent in the general election as they did in the 2000 election.
A real threat is Sanders message and its ability to reach the Democrat faithful. It also paves the way for a possible late candidacy from Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
