Bernie Sanders has called himself a Socialist almost his entire life. If he switched his position just as he ran for President, it would have hurt him more than calling himself a Democratic Socialist.

It’s his authenticity and willingness to fight for the left that has drawn so many people in. The GOP would have a much easier time attacking so many who was a socialist forever and then switched. Instead, Bernie is defining the terms and pushing the narrative on his own terms which is a much better strategy, short and long term.