‘It’s Not 2016 Anymore’: Bernie Sanders’ Path To Victory Looks Different In 2020
Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign kickoff event at Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont. Photo by Oliver Parini for VPR
The 2020 Democratic presidential primary will be similar to 2016 in at least one regard: Bernie Sanders is running for the nomination. But political observers say the electoral landscape has changed dramatically since Sanders’ last presidential bid, and not necessarily in ways that favor his latest candidacy.
Iowa City resident Paul Wittau was one of the progressive young voters that fueled Sanders’ surge in 2016. In January of that year, just a few days before the Iowa caucuses, VPR interviewed Wittau at a political rally in Iowa City.
“I think the thing that pulled me to Bernie the most is just anytime he spoke it just kind of got me excited, you know?” Wittau said then.
Reached by phone Tuesday morning, Wittau said he was “glad to hear” that Sanders had announced another run in 2020. But while he retains an allegiance to the senator from Vermont, Wittau said he wants to study up on a slate of 2020 Democratic contenders that seems to be growing by the day.
“I’m not ruling anyone out yet. I kind of want to see how things progress a little bit more,” Wittau said.