Before beginning, I feel it is incredibly important to preface that the Presidential election is in fact over a year away. While the primaries are closer (a scant four months away for Iowa and New Hampshire), trying to call a winner today is a lost cause.

One of the things that many people (including myself) thought when Bernie Sanders entered the race was that his ideas and policies would pull Hillary Clinton further to the right. Regardless of if you think Senator Sanders can win the nomination, there can be absolutely no argument that he has succeeded in making Secretary Clinton sound like a 74-year-old Democratic Socialist from Brooklyn. With her new position against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) championed by President Obama, it seems as though her campaign is really beginning to "feel the bern."

Clinton's reasoning behind opposing the trade deal sounds extremely Bernie-esque. "I have said from the very beginning that we had to have a trade agreement that would create good American jobs, raise wages and advance our national security..." she said in an October 7th interview with CNN. Sanders' senior policy advisor responded saying "I wish all the candidates were as forceful as Sen. Sanders was in opposition to TPP when it mattered.” Secretary Clinton is also drawing criticism because of her track record on the TPP.

Supporters of Hillary Clinton see this announcement as a victory, along with her announcements on gay marriage, Wall Street, or racial issues. Critics of the former Secretary of State would point out issues with these positions, and see them as a signal of fear on the part of the Clinton Campaign, and not indicative of how she would really fight on these issues. Whatever the reason for her policy changes, they are a welcome change for the 2016 rhetoric.