Why everyone — even conservatives — should welcome Bernie Sanders to the presidential race

Sanders will at least make things interesting — which is more than most candidates can say

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

I'm a little thrilled that Bernie Sanders has announced his run for president.

Despite the fact that I'm a conservative, having a socialist candidate in the mix is cause for excitement. Not because I think the good Vermonter will defeat Hillary Clinton and then lose the general election in Mondale-like fashion. (Even if he did defeat her in the primary, he wouldn't lose 49 states.) And not because I think he'll soften her up for a Green Party challenge either. In fact, I don't see him alienating that many progressives from Clinton at all.

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Michael Brendan Dougherty

Michael Brendan Dougherty is senior correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is the founder and editor of The Slurve, a newsletter about baseball. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, ESPN Magazine, Slate and The American Conservative.