Letter: Sanders is best hope to defeat Trump

The list of Democratic presidential candidates still remains large, but there are really only three left in contention - Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Who has the most compelling vision, while having prime cross-appeal to voters currently supporting other candidates?

Bernie Sanders has a leading, popular vision and consistent record for health care, the economy and jobs and foreign policy. While Joe Biden rejects Medicare for All (the single most popular policy among Democratic voters), voted for the War in Iraq, is in large part responsible for a dysfunctional criminal justice system that punishes the poor and keeps people in a cycle of poverty and inspires so little grass-roots support that his campaign is only viable because of funds raised from the ultrawealthy.

But why not Warren? This question would have made more sense last summer, when she was doing relatively well in the polls. Today, Warren is grappling with a Democratic Party that is becoming less tolerant of her consistent waffling on progressive issues, a half-measured approach to health care and her promise to accept special interest money (from anyone and everyone, regardless of industry) in the general election.

Despite their differences, the No. 2 choice for both Warren and Biden voters is Sanders - according to virtually every poll on the question. So if party unity is a goal, the answer is clear. We're also left with a choice: support a candidate who represents an establishment set of ideas which already got Trump elected once, or support a candidate who is inspiring millions and has a lifetime history of championing every issue that's important to most Democratic voters. I know how I'm voting.

Harvey Matterson

Arlington Heights