The One Thing Bernie-mentum Can't Overcome: Demographics

But another potential candidate could take the Hillary Clinton challenge that Sanders started, and build on it: Joe Biden.

Supporters cheer while holding up signs during the official kickoff to Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in Burlington, Vermont, U.S., on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.
Photographer: Scott Eisen/Bloomberg

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By Ken Goldstein

June 29, 2015 at 5:26 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Could Bernie Sanders really be the nominee? Recently, some on the left have dared to hope. Reports of large, fervent crowds and growing poll results from some early states fueled significant media discussion of a surge for Sanders as he challenges quasi-incumbent Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Our own Bloomberg Politics poll showed that while Clinton retained strong leads in both New Hampshire and Iowa, Sanders’ support was increasing and assessments of Clinton softened a bit. A CNN New Hampshire poll out a day later showed a much closer race and highlighted Clinton’s “dwindling” lead. While you may want to take it with a grain of salt because he is a Republican, well-respected pollster Glen Bolger flat out predicted that Sanders would beat Clinton in both Iowa and New Hampshire.