Sanders rising in Democratic polls for good reasons

Over the past few months, Sen. Bernie Sanders has ascended in Democratic primaries across the country. His presence in the 2016 presidential race is becoming increasingly formidable, making him both a strong contender for the Democratic nomination and a powerful counter-figure against right-wing populists like Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz.

Why is he so popular? Even five years ago, the idea of electing a man who considers himself a “Democratic Socialist” as president would have been laughed at (and it's certainly enjoying ridicule now), yet the stalwart senator will likely continue to become increasingly popular as his influence with millennials and progressive Democrats grows.

Maybe it's because Sanders represents many of the things we value in our country that so many conservative platforms eschew: acceptance, empathy, kindness, compassion, and reason, to list a few. While our fear and anger have produced characters like Trump, Bernie Sanders has climbed in the polls because of his commitments to civil rights, poverty, veteran's rights, women's rights, and immigration reform that reflect our still-present hope and understanding.

This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 8:41 PM with the headline "Sanders rising in Democratic polls for good reasons."