Bernie Sanders understands very well that he cannot win the Democratic nomination, let alone get elected and accomplish his legislative objectives, without a tidal wave of support from people who have never seen fit to participate in politics before. Is that a realistic possibility?
I don’t think so. The only scenario in which I can see such a thing happening requires the convergence of a young, charismatic candidate and a huge national crisis. Under different circumstances, that could have been Obama in 2008. It certainly isn’t Sanders at a time when unemployment is at 5%.