Summary
Historians suggest Democrats might have fared better against Donald Trump by embracing the economic issues championed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who has long pushed for a focus on “bread-and-butter” concerns for working-class voters.
Despite Kamala Harris’s progressive policies, polls showed Trump was favored on economic issues, particularly among working-class and Hispanic voters.
Historian Leah Wright Rigueur argued that Sanders’ messaging on economic struggles could be key for future Democratic strategies.
Sanders himself criticized the party for “abandoning” the working class, which he said has led to a loss of support across racial lines.
You underestimate how sensitive the working class is to anything involving removal of capitalism. The red scare never really ended.
Workers are scared of the terminology but not the ideology, if someone who’s powerful and charismatic enough is able to clearly explain left wing values the workers will follow along. Workers may be scared but they’re also easily convinced.