Sanders: Obama Could Use a Primary Fight
The Hill reports:
One of the Senate's liberal leaders said Wednesday that it would be beneficial for President Obama to face a primary challenger from the left in 2012.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has criticized the president for — among other things — brokering a tax deal with Republicans, said that it is worthwhile to have a wide array of voices in the campaign.
"If a progressive Democrat were to run, I think it would enliven the debate," he said during an interview on WNYC Radio. "They are free to do that."
Sanders's comments could revive talk of a primary challenge to Obama; many observers speculated that could happen after Democrats took a beating in the midterm elections, making the president look vulnerable for reelection in 2012.
But Obama's poll numbers have rebounded since then, leading elections handicappers to say his reelection chances look stronger than they did three months ago.
Still, Sanders said that a challenge would be a positive thing for the Democratic field.
"In a democracy, I think it's worthwhile to have different voices out there," he said.
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