As the first round of caucuses were counted Monday television pundits began to talk up Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
The self-described democratic socialist gave eventual 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton a run for her money, but his age and a health scare have led many to question his viability. So, too, has his far-left leanings, which many in the party fear could hurt in the general election.
But panelists both on CNN and Fox Business Network noted that Sanders has been able to bring out young voters as well and black and Latino supporters. If those groups continue to rally to him he could fare well even past Iowa, they predicted.
"Sanders is a phenomenon," former Obama administration official Van Jones said on CNN's caucus coverage. "He had a heart attack. We had the violins out for him, saying, 'Oh it's so good to see him being still able to be able to walk out on stage after a heart attack.' He is running ahead of the pack."
"Whether it's because of his health, whether it's because he was old, whether it's because his ideas are crazy or whatever it is, people are not taking him seriously, and I think right now you have to," GOP pollster Lee Carter said on Fox Business Network. "He's got 48% of the vote with 18-24 year olds. Young people don't traditionally come out, if you people come out, that's a lot for Bernie Sanders."
Gerry Baker, Fox Business host and Wall Street Journal columnist agreed: "If he can replicate what Obama was able to do in 2008, he's got tremendous momentum."
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