With or without projection polls, it's clear to anyone who even slightly understands politics that 73-year-old Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders, has no chance of winning the Democratic Party presidential nomination. This alone raises a few questions for voters, like: Why does he even matter? Why does he continue to run? Bernie Sanders matters because his presence alone is changing politics.
As the self-described socialist continues to make liberal waves throughout the country, he is forcing competitor Hillary Clinton to becoming even more "left wing." By gaining supporters for his "democratic-socialist" ideals, Hillary Clinton loses supporters, which will force her to adopt them.
An example of this is Sanders debt-free-college proposal, which will make public higher education debt-free for students. This legislation calls for the federal government to dole out $47 billion per year to states that agree to eliminate undergraduate tuition and fees at their public colleges and universities. The federal government would pay for about two-thirds of the cost of eliminating tuition, and states would have to chip in the remaining third.
Hillary Clinton's aides have already said she is examining the debt-free college proposal.
Sanders also supports a Medicare-like, government-run health insurance program for all Americans, wants to expand Social Security benefits, hopes to break up the nation's largest banks, wants to rein-in NSA spying, wants to end mass surveillance, opposes the Iraq war, wants to reform the Federal Reserve, supports worker-owned cooperatives, believes in transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels and fights for $15 per hour living wage—policies Clinton does not support.
Because of these "radical" views, according to NBC News, "He is viewed by Democratic activists as a passionate foot soldier in their movement, not its potential leader." Some argue that Sanders is too left, which makes key Democratic donors and elected officials prefer Clinton.
Clinton is the overwhelming favorite to win not only the Democratic nomination but the Presidency (what with her name and arguably moderate views), but with liberal activists like Sanders (and Elizabeth Warren) fighting left-and-right to change the game, she will lose votes unless she opts for more of these progressive policies that the Democratic party is looking for in a candidate.
While Sanders will definitely not become President, let alone win the Democratic nomination, here's betting that his ideals will win.
"Finally, let us understand that when we stand together, we will always win. When men and women stand together for justice, we win. When black, white and Hispanic people stand together for justice, we win." —Bernie Sanders
