At the final Democratic town hall before the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) delivered a passionate closing argument. He said the country needs a “political revolution” toward Democratic socialism. Sanders’ belief that his message has “touched a nerve” isn’t bleary-eyed optimism. The latest poll average at Real Clear Politics  shows a dead heat in Iowa and Sanders leading Hillary Clinton by 15 points in New Hampshire. If Sanders wins both of these early states, many Democrats believe a once unthinkable scenario becomes possible: a Sanders surge could overcome Clinton’s perceived strength in later states and give him the nomination.

The fact that an unabashed Democratic socialist is within striking distance of capturing the nomination of one of the two major political parties in the United States is the biggest story of 2016. Yes, it even trumps [Donald] Trump. While Trump is running a campaign based on personality, Sanders’ campaign is all about policy. Trump is an entertainer and satirist. Sanders, on the other hand, is the truest of true believers. Trump is ideologically incoherent. Sanders is ideologically consistent.

And because Trump is so obsessed with polls it’s worth noting the latest polls show a supermajority of Republicans aren’t backing Trump in Iowa or New Hampshire while Sanders is at 45 percent in Iowa and 53 percent in New Hampshire. That’s “yuge” for Bernie.

Even more striking is the fact that the Democratic intelligentsia isn’t sounding much of an alarm about a candidate who is slapping Adam Smith’s “invisible hand.” There is no National Review-like symposium condemning Sanders and don’t expect one. The writers at places like Vox, MSNBC, Mother Jones and Salon more or less welcome his ascent either because they agree with Sanders or believe his challenge will make a Clinton a “better candidate” (i.e., more amenable to Democratic socialism).

Read the full article at Opportunity Lives: Sanders is a Bigger Story than Trump