How Millennials May Re-Elect Trump

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Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally. Credit: Nick Solari

Sam Ketchem, Web Editor

As the 2020 election season draws near, many people are especially interested in the field of over 24 potential Democratic candidates. The candidates come from all over the country and fall all over the political spectrum. There are more moderate presidential hopefuls like former Vice President and current frontrunner Joe Biden, mildly progressive candidates like California Senator Kamala Harris, and ultra-progressive members like Vermont Senator and self-proclaimed democratic socialist Bernie Sanders. While viewing this vast field of options, many Democrats are asking just one question: “Who is most prepared to take down President Trump in the next election?”

The clearest answer to this question is definitely Joe Biden. He is long time player in the Democratic party, serving as both a Senator from Delaware and as Vice President under Barack Obama. He has a stronghold on Mid-western, blue collar workers and is currently leading in almost all the polls. Surprisingly, Biden is even doing well against the President before the campaign has even really started.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Biden beating Trump in Pennsylvania, an important swing state President Trump won in 2016, by 11 percent. An average of general polls compiled by RealClear Politics has Biden winning against Trump by about eight percent. Clearly, Biden is well positioned to unseat the President.

But, many on the left, especially young people, feel that Biden is too moderate. In a recent speech, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken leader in the eyes of many young progressives, attacked Biden for his inaction on climate change while he was in Congress. The progressive wing would prefer Bernie Sanders, but that may be a fatal mistake.

Polls have Sanders and Trump theoretically locked in a tight race. But it is a race that could be easily lost. In general, many Americans still have an unfavorable view of socialism. And even though Sander’s socialist view is much different then that of the communist nations which most people think of when they hear the word “socialist,” it is still a tough sell. Trump has already used Sander’s self-identification as a socialist to attack him and rile up Trump’s own base.

Even with this taken into account, millennial voters are still all in on Sanders. And while he may have many policies that some in America agree with, the potential for his loss is to great. If Democratic young people storm the primary polls and nominate Sanders for president, there is a decent chance we may see Trump take office again for another four years.