At the beginning of the 2016 election hullabaloo, Hillary Clinton was the obvious favorite on the democratic side. However, Sanders is catching up, and he’s on track to blow Hillary out of the water. As of now, Clinton and Sanders are neck and neck in the latest polls. Clinton currently has an approval rating of 47.7 percent while Sanders is at 40.4 percent, according to the Huffpost Pollster.
However, that lead may be short lived. The polling graph shows that Clinton’s numbers have sharply spiked downward while Sanders’ have done the polar opposite. Clinton still has him by a few points, but he’s gaining more popularity all the time, and if she’s not nervous about his up and coming stats, she should be.
It begs the question: Why do so many people like Bernie Sanders? Of course, at 74, he’s a loveable man who seems to have good intentions for improving the current economic conditions for the lower class. But there’s more to it than that. One of the primary reasons Sanders is performing so well is thanks to his stellar campaign platform.
A Campaign to Rival Obama’s
Many people remember President Barack Obama’s campaign during the 2008 election. He was a smooth talker with big dreams to help those who couldn’t help themselves, which appealed to young voters. He was an outlier, and the first African-American to become president in United States history.
Bernie Sanders is much the same. He’ll be the oldest president in history if he gets elected, and he’s a smooth speaker who shares many of the same ideals as President Obama. He’s also outperforming his competitor in the polls, particularly when it comes to young voters.
Obama’s campaign was one of historic proportions. His speaking skills and flawless performance in both elections will go down in the books for many reason, and Sanders should be proud that he’s considered to be very similar.
What Sanders Is Doing Right
But what’s different about the two is that Obama, although he started out with an optimistic slogan and targeted advertisements, wasn’t able to get many young people to cast a vote. Less than a quarter of those who voted were young adults. Sanders’ campaign seems like it could be better suited to draw out those who Obama couldn’t.
Sanders’ entire campaign is centered on bringing out both anxiety and hope in millennial voters in order to thrust his vision upon them and encourage their votes. Here are some of Sanders’ moves that may win him the election.
- His slogans mimic what millennials are saying. Initially, Sanders’ slogan was “Not me. Us.” Since then, he’s adopted other sayings to include “A future to believe in,” “A political revolution is coming,” “Not for sale,” “Enough is enough,” and “Feel the Bern.” Each of these slogans appeal to the younger generation by giving a voice to complaints they’ve made in the past. Sanders is smart for making these statements part of his campaign.
- Even his signage feels hopeful. Of course, Sanders’ colors are blue, red, and white, with blue being the main color that reflects the Democratic Party. However, even his blue stands out as a message of hope. He and his campaign managers are obviously well versed in color psychology, and they know that the sky blue background color speaks a message of peace, calm, and hope for the future – an ideal young voters are seeking.
- He uses social media to raise awareness for his brand, not just his campaign. Bernie Sanders is a brand, not just a name. Through Facebook, Twitter, and even Instagram, Sanders has made an effort to connect with his followers and make them “feel the Bern.” He’s an active Twitter user, and he posts updates about his life and political happenings, involving his stance, and also campaigns on Facebook.
Bernie Sanders wants voters to see him in both a personal setting and a political one, which could give him an edge over Hillary, and might even push over the top.
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