...
For example - I don't see him doing well in the midwest because him wanting to ban fracking. Are people in those states going to want part of their state economy eliminated?. I'm just not seeing a path to him winning. And, I don't see Bernie as the charismatic leader that builds coalitions to sell democratic socialism to the masses. We are too divided with socioeconomic and cultural baggage. The country is split down these lines. This country isn't Japan or Sweden. Bernie has never played well with others or learned to compromise. That's why he has such a small record of accomplishment for his many decades in the House.
At this time, (that could change) I just don't think Bernie can beat Trump. I'm seeing that a majority of Americans are not going to vote to tear everything down and start over in a relatively good economy. There's a reason that Trump hasn't attacked Bernie yet. He's intentionally building up Bernie's campaign because Trump wants to run against Bernie. He'll paint Bernie as an extreme socialist that will tank your retirement funds and 401ks , and in his mind, he'll coast to victory. In Trump's world, truth is irrelevant. Image is everything. And Trump has the money to make that image stick. I see his followers are doing the same thing here and elsewhere. We are in the era of politics as reality show, and this is the big extravaganza. It’s not politics as usual, it’s media driven machine warfare. I just don’t think the other Democratic candidates have the resources (except Bloomberg). I don’t think small donor financing will work once we get to the general. Nothing will rally Trump voters more than the thought of a "socialist/communist" possibly replacing their cult leader and they will come out in droves. And many independents and swing voters will buy in to that narrative.
You make a good point here, and I would just add it's not just the Midwest.
PA (which Trump won and Ds
HAVE TO WIN to get WH back) also has a strong shale fracking industry. It also has several nuclear power plants, which Bernie vowed to shutdown.
CO also has a strong gas drilling industry too fwiw.
So, Bernie's path to victory depends on the voters voting to end their jobs. It's freaking crazy imo.
We should also appreciate the strength of the pharma industry in PA(!), NJ and NC.
Another industry Bernie wants to go after hard.
Then there is the insurance industry in CT. They'll gleefully vote themselves out of work?