The mainstream media prefer a narrative that has the GOP bitterly divided and the Democrats one big happy family, but the fact is that Democrats are at least as fractured as Republicans. So much so that Vermont’s socialist senator Bernie Sanders is openly contemplating a challenge to Hillary Clinton or even a third party run for president in 2016. Paul Bedard reports in the Examiner:

Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders is readying a potential 2016 presidential primary challenge to Hillary Clinton, claiming that the “same old same old ... Clinton type of politics” won't solve the problems of the nation.

“I am prepared to run for president of the United States. I don't believe that I am the only person out there who can fight this fight, but I am certainly prepared to look seriously at that race,” he told The Nation's John Nichols.

Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with the Democrats, has toyed with a presidential bid before, but this is the furthest he’s gone in announcing his bid. While he hasn’t begun fundraising, Sanders said he is discussing a run with key advisors. (snip)

Progressives have been eager for somebody to challenge Clinton, seen as unwilling to call for big liberal programs. (snip)

Sanders said that the party has to offer an alternative view and even hinted at a third-party run.

A Sanders run could force Hillary to advocate leftists policies that are unpopular with an American electorate rather skeptical about big government in the wake of Obamacare’s proof of big government incompetence. He is likely to face a brutal slap-down from the ruthless Clinton Machine, and that potentially could lead to a third party candidacy, which could splinter the Democrat vote. At least that is my hope. It’s far from a certainty, though.

Nevertheless, Hillary Clinton, if allowed a cake walk to the nomination, is likely to feign a centrist agenda at variance with her real intentions, in order to appeal to the low information crowd.