Democratic debate preview: Five things Bernie Sanders must do to succeed in first clash

Senator Bernie Sanders was among the first to take an early peek at the debate stage where he will clash with Hillary Clinton and three other candidates. Here's what he needs to do to suceed at the Wynn Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas

Bernie Sanders needs to broaden his appeal if he is to win the nomination (Getty Images)

1. Be Presidential

It will be crucial for Bernie to show that he is more than a crazy old man from Vermont who knows how to send big crowds crazy by wild, fulminating riffs on the evils of Wall Street and the super-wealthy. He needs to show he can look presidential, notwithstanding the Democrat Socialist label that he gives himself and his remarks on NBC TV at the weekend when he said “no” when asked if he was a capitalist. Wearing a suit that doesn’t hang from his shoulders will help. And he will have to forego the histrionics he engages in while addressing rallies, waving his hand and bellowing.

2. Bigger tent

Bernie has shocked the Democratic establishment by drawing far bigger crowds at his rallies than Hillary or even Donald Trump has managed. Sometimes they number 20,000 or more. But those crowds are overwhelmingly, white, young and college-education liberals. Here, he has to say something to tell all the other constituencies of his party that he cares about them too, especially African Americans and Hispanics. And, for that matter, working class white men and women. If he can’t broaden his appeal he will never win the nomination, never mind the White House.

3. Debt

Bernie’s appeal – ‘Feel the Bern’ as his fans say – is largely based on his promise to significantly broaden the welfare safety net in America, including free school and college tuition for all Americans, with no means-testing, a far more generous healthcare system than President Obama introduced, one-year’s parental paid maternity and paternity leave and so forth. But he had better be prepared to explain how he expects to pay for all this largesse. A Reuters survey says his tax increase plans would generate $4 trillion in extre revenue over ten years, but his new spending would reach $12 trillion.

4. No flip flops

With so many millions watching, this is Bernie’s opportunity to highlight the views that have so resonated at his rallies and set himself apart from Hillary Clinton. For the latter task, he need only tout his consistency. His views may represent the far left of the party, but there have been his for years and years. He voted against the Iraq War, Hillary voted for it. He always opposed the Pacific-Asia trade deal, Hillary backed it and now opposes it. All this will feed the impression that he is a genuine politician who sticks to his principles.

5. Donors

Certainly he should emphasise one more thing that clearly sets him apart from everyone else on the stage and almost all of the American political establishment. He has refused to accept a single dollar from billionaires and or to harness himself to any of the so-called Super-PACs, which, under new rules, can raise tens of millions for whichever candidate they favour. It his contention that the very rich have essentially bought the entire political system in America and that view is likely to resonate widely with viewers. And he might point out that he has still managed to raise almost as much money as Mrs Clinton, simply by taking small donations from grass roots supporters.