Sanders praises AOC, says voters want candidates that ‘fight’ for them
Senator Bernie sanders criticized establishment Democratic candidates, saying they no longer resonate with voters who want politicians to truly fight for their interests. In a recent interview on The axios Show, Sanders praised Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) as an intelligent, genuine, and hardworking advocate for working-class families.He described her as a “formidable” potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election,while emphasizing that the decision is ultimately hers. Sanders highlighted the challenge Democrats face in messaging, contrasting it with donald Trump’s successful approach of acknowledging a broken system and promising to fix it, even if his solutions are controversial. Additionally, Sanders expressed support for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who faced backlash over past controversial posts, urging forgiveness and noting Platner’s recent apologies and commitment to fighting for the working class.
Bernie Sanders blasts establishment candidates, backs AOC for 2028
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) blasted “establishment-type” candidates in a recent interview, saying they don’t “really cut it anymore” and floated Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) as a “formidable” option for Democrats to retake the White House in 2028.
On The Axios Show, Sanders said people want politicians who “fight for them,” all while heaping praise on Ocasio-Cortez, who is close to Sanders and has been appearing with him on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
“At this particular moment in American history, having establishment-type candidates doesn’t really cut it anymore,” Sanders said. “People are angry, people are hurting, people want candidates and public officials who are going to stand up and fight for them.”
Sanders then lauded Ocasio-Cortez as “incredibly intelligent” and a “good politician.”
“I’ve been out on the streets with her, people come up and how she responds to people is so incredibly genuine and open,” he said. “That’s a gift that she has.”
Sanders continued to praise Ocasio-Cortez, saying she “comes from the working class” and that “she knows what it’s like not to have any money.”
“She’s going out fighting for working families all over this country and I think as a young person, who six years ago was a waitress, becoming politically prominent has been incredibly inspiring,” he added.
He then said he thinks Ocasio-Cortez would make a “formidable” presidential candidate in 2028, but that it’s “her decision to make.”
His comments come as Democrats navigate creating successful messaging with voters and putting candidates on the ballot that connect with the public.
Trump’s successful messaging
Sanders said the problem for Democrats in 2024 was that Trump identified the system was broken and that he would fix it, while Democrats didn’t acknowledge this “reality.”
“What Trump has always understood, unlike many Democrats, is that the system is broken,” he said. “Trump understood that there are millions of people who are hurting, who are disgusted with the system, and in many ways he said, ‘I will fix it, system is broken, I will fix it.’”
“Trump understood the system was broken and his solutions make it worse. Democrats do not acknowledge that reality, ticker around the edges, and people say ‘Trump may be crazy but at least he’s trying to do something,’” Sanders added.
Since the election, Democrats have worked to recruit candidates and relay messaging with the goal of resonating with voters after a disastrous 2024.
Supporting Graham Platner of Maine
In recent weeks, Democrats have been met with scandals while trying to improve messaging, including one involving Graham Platner, who is running for a Maine Senate seat.
Video emerged showing Platner with a tattoo of a Nazi symbol, and a collection of Reddit posts Platner made recently resurfaced, leading to controversy.
DNC CHAIRMAN STANDS BY PLATNER IN MAINE SENATE RACE OVER ‘INDEFENSIBLE’ DELETED POSTS
Sanders reiterated his support of Platner and said the Senate candidate went through a “dark period” and has since apologized.
“The guy I saw up on the stage in Portland, Maine, rather a brilliant guy, I mean, really a strong fighter for the working class, very articulate, very smart,” Sanders said.
He added that Platner’s old social media posts were “stupid” and “hurtful,” but that the public should forgive him.
“I think as a nation, especially given the fact that we have a president who has been convicted of 34 felonies, maybe we have to do a little bit of forgiveness,” Sanders said.
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