How to Win the 2016 Democratic Primary as Bernie Sanders
Running as Bernie Sanders in 2016 means you start as the underdog against Hillary Clinton. You won't out-spend her, so you have to out-target her — pick your states, ride your momentum, and don't waste a dollar on races you were always going to lose. Here's how to do it in Power Play Chronicles.
Protect your cash — you can't spend what you don't have
Your budget is finite and the game won't let you overspend. As Bernie you're working with less than the establishment favorite, so treat every dollar as a bet. Pouring money into a state where you trail badly rarely moves the result enough to matter. Concentrate your spend where you're already close, and let momentum do the rest.
Win early, then let momentum compound
Momentum in the game runs on a tight scale and never climbs sky-high, but the gap between your momentum and Clinton's is what swings results on contest days. An early win — even a narrow one — lifts your momentum into the next round of states. So front-load your effort: take an early contest convincingly, carry that momentum forward, and you'll find later states tilting your way without spending as heavily.
Target the right states
- Lean in where Bernie is strong. Pick the states where your starting position is competitive and push them over the line, rather than spreading thin everywhere.
- Mind the 15% threshold. Democratic delegates are awarded proportionally with a 15% viability floor. Clearing it everywhere keeps delegates flowing even in states you don't win outright.
- Don't chase lost causes. If a state is far out of reach, bank the money for one where the margin is thin.
Use the debates
Debates can swing a contest. Going in with strong, consistent positioning matters — and the speaking traits that actually show up in your answers are the ones that move voters. Play to Bernie's strengths and don't try to be something the candidate isn't; a clear message lands harder than a muddled one.
Pick the right advisor to trust
Each turn your advisors hand you conflicting recommendations. The realist will tell you to consolidate; the alarmist will scream about a state you've already lost. Learn to read which advisor is right for the moment — the better your read, the more often your spending actually buys you delegates instead of false comfort.
Beat Clinton state by state and the nomination is yours. The fastest way to learn the map is to run it.
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