Voters Hiding in My Basement

2016 presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders have advocated a set of radical policies, on the right and left respectively, that are broadly unpopular with the American public. The two men have resultantly faced questions about the viability of such policies and about their own personal electability. Their response has been a truly unique and creative take on American politics. Each of these ideological candidates has asserted that if only their supporters believe in their cause with sufficient fervor, if only their parties rally behind them wholeheartedly, they will inspire millions upon millions of new voters to support them in November. I like to call this phenomenon “I have 100 million voters hidden in my basement” syndrome” because what the candidates are saying, in effect, is this: “Most Americans don’t like my policies, more than that, they see me as a personally repellant threat to our country. If we had 100% turnout among the groups that broadly support me, we would still lose this election. But all is not lost. I have been hiding 100 million voters in my basement these past 20 years. If you pick me as your nominee, I will let them out, and they will deliver us this election.” Such reasoning is almost comically inept. But it really isn’t funny. One of the primary purposes of our primary system is to pick reasonably, electable candidates for the general election. This year, we seem to failing to fulfill this fundamental requirement, the “voter in my basement syndrome” and the illusion of electability it creates is a big reason why.