Bernie Sanders recently spoke before 100,000 fans. 'That doesn't mean much,' says The Washington Post.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is drawing really big crowds to his presidential rallies — 28,000 in Portland, Oregon, on August 9; another 28,000 in Los Angeles a day later. In all, notes Philip Bump at The Washington Post, the Vermont independent and Democratic presidential candidate has drawn 104,000 to his events since July 1.
"So what does this mean?" Bump asked Wednesday. "I hate to say it — and I hate to rain on Sanders' well-attended parade — but: It doesn't mean a whole lot." At this point, Sanders is partly just the leading "Not Hillary Clinton" in what's essentially a two-person Democratic primary, Bump argues. He continues:
Sanders has the grassroots energy and newcomer enthusiasm, Bump concedes, but Clinton doesn't want to draw huge crowds just yet. "Could Clinton fill an arena in Los Angeles if she wanted to?" he asks. "Of course she could. Unquestionably.... If Sanders fills Cowboy Stadium or the home field for the Utah Utes, I'm happy to revisit the numbers." Read Bump's entire analysis at The Washington Post.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Netanyahu makes controversial address
Speed Reads Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress denounced Gaza war protestors
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicals
Speed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published