Bernie Sanders might resemble Larry David – but none of his competitors are laughing now

Underestimating Sanders has proved a mug’s game. With a couple of arterial stents for running mates, he is halfway to doing a Lazarus

Even by the cosmically bizarre current standards of Anglo-American politics, the latest twist in the meandering race to take on Trump is a doozy.

In late September, Bernie Sanders was a widely discounted long shot. The self-described socialist senator from Vermont came unexpectedly close to beating Hillary Clinton to the Democratic nomination four years ago – but by this point, pushing 80 and a distant fifth in the polls, he looked done.

Conventionally, the presidential contender’s comeback trail starts with a high-profile endorsement, a sparkling debate or some other sign there’s life in the old dog yet.