Sanders Heads Into Debate With Something To Prove: His Health

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

ALTOONA, Iowa ― Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, got a warm welcome at a gathering of the United Food and Commercial Workers union at a casino in this Des Moines suburb. The International President of the UFCW, Marc Perrone, praised him as a “liberal lion” who had changed the debate on health care and economic policy. At the end of Sanders’ speech, the roughly 400 union members stood and applauded.

There was one problem, if you could call it that: Sanders wasn’t in Altoona. While Democreatic candidates major (former Vice President Joe Biden) and minor (Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet) had flown to Iowa for the event, Sanders appeared from the living room of his family home in Burlington, Vermont, and delivered his speech via Skype.

As new polling suggests Sanders’ heart attack may harm his chances to win the nomination, his campaign is working to project normalcy, even as Sanders remains at home under doctor’s orders. Sanders is set to make his first public appearance outside of Vermont since the health scare on Tuesday night at the fourth Democratic presidential debate in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio ― an appearance his campaign hopes will quiet doubts about whether he can win the nomination.

-snip-

In a new HuffPost/YouGov survey, 88% of registered voters say they’ve heard at least a little about Sanders having a heart attack. The news appears to have taken a toll on perceptions of his health ― just 19% of voters say they believe he is in good enough physical condition to serve effectively as president for four years. By comparison, 43% believe former Vice President Joe Biden is in adequate health, with 53% saying the same of President Donald Trump and 66% of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/sanders-heads-into-debate-with-something-to-prove-his-health/ar-AAIKWPB?li=BBnb7Kz

[TidalWave46]

1. He isn't going to be able to shake it. He phoned it in at the UFCW.

When he takes the stage for the debate two things will happen. People will feel bad for him. People will see how old he is. Perception is reality and the guy just had a heart attack. That is a perception changer.

The polls are already showing that it is the end. 19% feel comfortable with his health.

[George II]

2. Curious to see how he looks at the end of the two or three hours.

[TidalWave46]

3. While that might be interesting.

He will look old at the start of the three hours. Why? Because he is old. Then you take into account he just had a heart attack and that is what people will see. An old man who just had a heart attack.

Not sure why so many seem to be uncomfortable mentioning this. It's not ageism. It's not offensive.

[George II]

6. Indeed. It's not ageism. My brother had his first heart attack in his early 40 's...

his second in his mid 60's.

[bluewater]

4. There's a good chance he will look better than he did in the previous debate.

He certainly sounds better now than he did then.

Bernie said he was ignoring health warning signs for a month or so before his heart attack, I think, in retrospect, that this showed in the last debate.

Let's all hope he's doing better physically now.

[NurseJackie]

5. How sad. I feel so sorry for him.

[Blue_true]

8. That is going to be telling George.

I hope for his own sake that if he starts to not feel good physically up there that he stop his participation in the debate, of course that likely ends his campaign also, but such it is.

[ecstatic]

10. As a worrier, I don't appreciate being

forced into worrying about Bernie's health during tomorrow's debate. He should bow out gracefully. It's over.

[brush]

7. Sorry, a guy nearing 80 who just had a heart attack and a previous heart incident of fainting in...

the shower is not a good candidate for the rigors and stress of a presidential campaign filled with long, multi-event days, much less the even more stressful job of the presidency.

It's time for Bernie to stand down and either endorse or make a deal later for a cabinet post for his support.

[Blue_true]

9. Bernie is taking a great risk.

If he sails through the 2-3 hour debate, that is going to help him a little. But if he has any physical issues or looks bad or slow, he might as well endorse Senator Warren and warn her that he will be keeping her feet to the fire as her campaign goes forward.