How do Dennis Kucinich and Bernie Sanders win so many Repuke votes?

[Some Moran]

Every time I hear about their victories, I hear "50% support from registered Republicans".

BTW, this is not an anti-Kucinich thread. Winning Republican votes doesn't make one a bad person or an unsuitable candidate. (Hell, being extremely liberal and winning a lot of Republican votes makes one a GOOD candidate!)

[plurality]

1. easy

they don't do 'politician speak' and offer real solutions to problems faced by all working people.

It's funny but regular people of both parties tend to vote for candidates that don't sound like their talking out of both ends.

[IrateCitizen]

2. Beat me to it.

People don't want "ideology". They want solutions. Bernie and Dennis offer them solutions by listening to their problems first-hand rather than looking at some poll or focus group.

[Some Moran]

3. So Dennis could slaughter Bush (in theory, anyways)?

Nice...

[IrateCitizen]

5. No, I don't think so...

Because, in this day and age of politics being based completely on 30-second commercials and soundbites, it will be too easy to paint DK as an ideologue and raving left wing lunatic.

In today's age, ANYTHING on the national stage that approaches "listening to people's problems and offering up solutions" would be portrayed as "demagoguery". Sadly, we haven't reached the point at which the biggest criteria for a Presidential election is looking "Presidential".

[plurality]

4. this brings up something i feel should be discussed

That being how politicians statements are intentionally drafted so that they sound good but mean NOTHING. And it's done this way purposefully, the number 1 rule of campaigns is to never allow the candidate say anything concrete.

[no name no slogan]

6. The same way Wellstone did here in MN

They're honest and have integrity. If they changes their positions, they explain why they did, and how they came to their new position.

They are more interested in principles than in doing what's perceived as "popular".

We would often have Repubs who had very little in common with Wellstone's positions voting for him in the general election because he was so forthright and honest-- especially compared to his competition, who was funded with more big money donations than anything.

These days, ideology doesn't matter to the vast majority to the electorate. What matters is their perceptiono of the candidate, and whether s/he is not afraid to stand up for their beliefs.

THAT is how we win elections!

[slackmaster]

7. Because Republicans aren't all far-right clones

Some of them are actually thougtful, open-minded voters.