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Are Texas Democrats on Super Tuesday Ready for a Socialist Presidential
Candidate?

Carolyn Presutti

   DALLAS, TEXAS - Asia Wright is in her second year of law school at
   Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She's voting for the
   first time in a presidential election and says "duty and conviction"
   brought her out to the polls. She's looking, she said, for a candidate
   in touch with the community, one who relies on a team to make
   decisions.

   "I want someone who isn't like (President Donald) Trump, who just
   thinks that they are the end-all and they know everything," she said.
   In early voting, Wright chose former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete
   Buttigieg.

   But Sunday evening, Buttigieg suspended his campaign and canceled a
   Dallas rally minutes before it was to begin, leaving many supporters
   standing around, talking about Buttigieg's future.

   Vinny Bonanno sat, looking shell-shocked, as workers dismantled the
   stage and seats. He said he's still proud of his candidate for "putting
   the words 'gay' and 'president'" in the same sentence for many
   Americans.

   Texas traditions vs Democratic primary

   With days to go before the vote, Texas polling has Vermont Senator
   Bernie Sanders leading the southern state, followed by and occasionally
   tied with, former Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders' popularity in a
   traditionally staunch conservative state confounds some because he is a
   self-described democratic socialist who champions Medicare-for-all and
   free public universities.

   Gary Buster from Fort Worth, Texas, calls those empty promises.

   "A lot of the younger generation is supporting these Democrats and
   these socialist ideas, and it's crazy to think that something's free --
   it's not," he said.

   But Anita Basudevan of Houston, Texas, disagrees. She chose Sanders in
   early voting for many reasons, including his health care plan. She says
   democratic socialism is misconstrued and Texans are looking for someone
   "new and fresh."

   Basudevan says her understanding of socialism is that it "really takes
   the power away from the big businesses and gives it back to the
   people."

   Longtime Texas Republican Consultant [1]Craig Murphy of Murphy Nasica
   has given advice to Republicans - from those running for president to
   towns of fewer than 100 people. He downplays Sanders' rise.

References

   1. http://www.murphynasica.com/

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