Bernie Sanders does not have to win the Iowa primary; however, if the gets 35%, 40%, or 45% of the vote, that would set him up nicely for the New Hampshire primary, next door to his state of Vermont.
Steve Kornacki: There is news this week happening on the democratic side. You’re going to have two candidates. It looks like getting into the race running against Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, is going to do this in Vermont on Tuesday.
…I think there’s some real energy behind Sanders right now.
…There is an authenticity to him, of frustration with the system, I think there is something there that connects with [many people]….
Steve Kornacki: They know he is upset with the system, basically [wants to] blow up the system. Robert Costa, what do you think of that comparison between Bernie Sanders and Ron Paul?
Robert Costa: I think Sanders could actually be a more potent political figure than Ron Paul.
When I was in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this week following Secretary Clinton, there was a group of about a dozen college students outside all supporting Bernie Sanders. There was a group of labor organizers holding signs pressuring Clinton on the trade deal and very disappointed with her lack of a stance.
There is a movement, especially in a place like Iowa that even Clinton has now acknowledged that Bernie Sanders could get 35, 40, maybe even 45% if it becomes a grassroots movement. He doesn’t need to win Iowa but if he can show in Iowa, then he goes into his neighboring state of New Hampshire and he could become a problem.
Steve Kornacki: There it is. I mean, that’s the thing. It does set up. The first two states, Iowa with the populist grassroots, New Hampshire, right next door to Vermont, northern New Hampshire sharing the Burlington media market, starts to make you say what if, a little bit….