Pundits on every channel and President Donald Trump seem to believe that Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), a self-described Democratic Socialist, would be Donald Trump's dream opponent in the 2020 election.
Democrats have expressed concerns that the Senator is too divisive while Trump fans the flames with tweets that the Democratic National Committee is working overtime to rob Sanders of the nomination.
But one Republican Senator says that Sanders could, in fact, pose the biggest threat to Trump's efforts to gain a second term.
In an interview with CBS This Morning, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) said:
"Bernie Sanders brings that outside game in a similar fashion that President Trump did in 2016. Think about the similarities. In 2016, Republican leadership, Republican wisdom said that there is no way in the world out of the 17 candidates, Donald Trump will be the president. I think it's very similar."
Watch below:
Only on @CBSThisMorning: @GayleKing sits down with Republican @SenatorTimScott about the African-American vote in h… https://t.co/C0nPaVwiGF— CBS This Morning (@CBS This Morning) 1582549944.0
Sanders has won the popular vote in all three primaries so far, and is narrowly trailing former Vice President Joe Biden to win the South Carolina primary later this week.
Senator Scott also stressed that Trump will be a tough opponent to beat:
"If he's on his game as he was at the State of the Union, I don't think there is a candidate in the country that can beat him. If there is a second choice other than himself, it would be Bernie Sanders."
Scott certainly isn't the only one who thinks Bernie has a shot at beating Trump.
This is Austin, Texas - where 27,000 people have come to see Bernie Sanders This will terrify Donald Trump… https://t.co/F9KyMrauEq— Ben (@Ben) 1582538943.0
The best proof that Bernie can win is that Bernie keeps winning. Pass it on. #BernieBeatsTrump #NevadaCaucus— Naomi Klein (@Naomi Klein) 1582392905.0
Underreported story: Bernie’s surge has not been limited to the primary. Despite Trump’s post-impeachment rise—whi… https://t.co/kGDnLOlT5C— Samuel D. Finkelstein II (@Samuel D. Finkelstein II) 1582491215.0
New battleground state poll: Bernie Sanders runs ahead of Joe Biden against Donald Trump. MICHIGAN Sanders 48, Tru… https://t.co/M6QklR7XSY— Matt Karp 🌹🦏🇺🇸 (@Matt Karp 🌹🦏🇺🇸) 1582468841.0
Others didn't trust a Republican to give them advice on who would be the most formidable candidate.
@CBSThisMorning @GayleKing @SenatorTimScott Seriously? Having SenatorTimScott on to opine about the state of the De… https://t.co/TDLJBS3NP7— quit jammin’ me (@quit jammin’ me) 1582553337.0
@Eugene_Scott I can't take anything this man says in "good faith" Let's see what he says if Bernie is the nominee.— Kwabena Smith (@Kwabena Smith) 1582559709.0
@Eugene_Scott It’s sad that I no longer know if he’s saying what he actually believes or if he is just spouting WH… https://t.co/Kx0MEU65j4— Kate Glenn (@Kate Glenn) 1582559920.0
@Eugene_Scott See he was gonna talk about the primary. The Democratic one. He is meddling in clear sight & the GOP… https://t.co/hg9cnSIgWp— Emily (@Emily) 1582559899.0
While Bernie remains the Democratic frontrunner, there are more primaries to go. It will require unity and a massive voter turnout—no matter the candidate—to beat Donald Trump.