Politics

CNN’s John Avlon Says The Democratic Party Never Saw The Populist Revolt At Its Door Coming

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Nick Givas Media And Politics Reporter
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CNN commentator John Avlon said establishment Democrats failed to see the revolt of the populist left and paid for it by losing control of their party.

“The Democratic establishment did pull off a primary win last night, with Sen. Tom Carper fending off progressive Kerri Evelyn Harris. But Delaware is not the norm this year. There’s a revolution going on inside the Democratic party,” Avlon said on “New Day” Friday. (RELATED: CNN’s John Avlon Says Democratic Party Is Being Taken Over By The ‘Occupy Generation’)

“The energy is on the populist left and establishment incumbents often haven’t seen it coming.”

Avlon listed races where mainstream and incumbent Democrats were defeated by more radically liberal candidates and even cited actress and gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon getting under New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s skin.

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“See a pattern? In politics, the establishment can suffer from over-confidence born from conventional wisdom,” Avlon added. “Now over the past decade, we’ve seen the GOP’s takeover by the Tea Party and then Trump. Reducing moderates to one-quarter of the party. On the other side of the aisle, 50 percent of Democrats now identify as liberal.”

Avlon predicted Republicans will depict Democrats as “extreme,” while presenting themselves as the more stable option, in the upcoming midterms.

“When it comes to the general election, Republicans will try to paint Democrats as extreme,” Avlon said. He then quoted former White House adviser Steve Bannon about the dangers of relying on racism and identity politics to gain power.

“Looking ahead to 2020, still a long way away, trends indicate that Democrats may be tempted to nominate someone who plays to the left,” Avlon concluded. “If history is any guide — and that’s always a question in the Trump era — that could help Republican reelection efforts in must-win Midwest swing states.”

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