Bernie Sanders Faces Uphill Battle for Hollywood Support

As the media continue to obsess over Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) phenomenon is quickly and aggressively gaining momentum. A new CNN poll shows that the Vermont senator would defeat every single major Republican candidate, some by double digits. The Sanders surge has caught even his own campaign by surprise. “It happened a lot faster than we expected and with a lot more speed,” said Sen Sanders’ press secretary Michael Briggs. “I don’t think anyone saw it coming.” But even though he’s been packing stadiums with adoring supporters -- he filled the 10,000-seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Wisconsin earlier in July -- he has made only modest in-roads so far among Hollywood Democrats and LA-based donors. Progressive industry figures like Mark Ruffalo and Neil Young have publicly backed the self-described socialist, and about 300 people turned out for two of his fundraising events in LA in June, which together raised about $100,000.

Since announcing his candidacy in April, Sen Sanders has raised an impressive $15 million nationwide, mostly from small, grass-roots donations. “Bernie offers authenticity,” said Mimi Kennedy, the costar of CBS’ “Mom” who hosted one of the LA events. “He understands the middle class and income inequality.” That sentiment was echoed by the host of Sanders’ other LA fundraiser, longtime activist Betty Sheinbaum. “We love everything he says,” Sheinbaum said. “Everybody who came to our event was impressed.” While Sen Sanders has enough money to run a credible campaign and his favorable rating has doubled since March, rising from 12 percent to 24 percent, experts say he’s going to need a lot more Hollywood movers and shakers if he wants to take the nomination from Clinton (whose favorable rating has slipped 5 points from 48 percent to 43 percent).