MSNBC's Joe Scarborough proclaimed Sen. Bernie Sanders the clear Democratic frontrunner -- and said the Vermont senator could beat President Donald Trump.
The "Morning Joe" host agreed with the show's disgraced contributor Mark Halperin, who has been making tentative steps toward a comeback following sexual misconduct allegations, that Sanders would be extremely difficult to beat in the Democratic primary -- especially after raking in $18 million in campaign funds.
"Bernie Sanders almost beat Hillary Clinton, against all odds, in Iowa last time, then he destroyed her in New Hampshire," Scarborough said. "They have moved up the California primary in an attempt to possibly help Kamala Harris, but you have a situation with Bernie Sanders and we've seen the money, where the media always underestimates Bernie Sanders -- always."
"They did in 2016, they have in 2020," he added. "So this actually is a stark reminder that we're making the same mistake again in 2020."
Scarborough charted a path to victory for the senator through the Democratic primary, and then on to the White House.
"He wins Iowa, he wins New Hampshire, he's got the momentum in California," he said. "You tell me who else other than Joe Biden is going to be able to keep pace with this guy?"
MSNBC analyst Mike Barnicle agreed Sanders could secure the nomination by March next year, and Scarborough disagreed with contributor Donny Deutsch's assessment of his chances against Trump.
"Oh, I completely disagree, and I disagree because a lot of people who voted for Donald Trump said they would have voted for Bernie Sanders," Scarborough said. "Politics is a strange thing. Bobby Kennedy supporters went to vote for George Wallace. A lot of Trump voters would be more interested in Bernie Sanders than others."
