It’s starting to appear that the Democratic Party’s radical left wing isn’t convinced that Hillary Clinton is progressive enough. That means we could see some radicals challenging the former First Lady for her party’s nomination.
Among those mentioned are Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and former Socialist mayor of Burlington, who caucuses with Senate Dems.
From the Dallas Morning News:
The elections of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have generated new energy in the Democratic Party’s liberal wing, especially among critics of President Barack Obama’s centrist course who fear a Hillary Clinton presidency would mean more of the same.
The former secretary of state’s support for a tougher foreign policy than Obama’s in her new book, “Hard Choices,” won’t assuage them. But while Clinton’s book and accompanying tour have attracted enormous attention, and her standing within the Democratic Party remains very strong, there are increasing signs its liberal wing remains determined to play a role in 2016.
While Warren said she doesn’t have plans to seek the White House, a fellow New Englander seems interested. Bernie Sanders, Vermont’s independent senator, told The Nation magazine in March, “I am prepared to run for president of the United States.” Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who visited Iowa last year, said in an interview with the Weekly Standard that Clinton has shown a tendency to “shift hard right.” He said he is considering running even though he also said a presidential bid “would ruin my life.”
If the Democrats don’t want to even give the appearance of governing from the center (Obama is certainly no centrist), and insist on nominating a radical progressive for president, they will be handing the White House to the Republicans. The American people have gotten a good taste of progressive government over the past 5 ½ years, and they clearly don’t care for it. Any candidate to the left of Obama would go down in flames in a general election.
