A while ago, I worried that Senator Bernie Sander’s eye on the Presidency would ruin the Democrats’ chances in 2016.  We don’t need another Ralph Nader-like spoiler.

But he’s said recently that he would never run as an independent, which calms me greatly.  He would use the race as a way to make sure the issues he cares about are discussed, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I think his presence in the Presidential race as a Democrat would be beneficial.  He won’t win, of course, but he certainly could make sure that the party follows a more populist (and winning) message, rather than looking like just another traditional status quo race.  (OK, yes, Hillary breaks the mold by being a female candidate, but her views are pretty moderate and traditional.)