Nov 24, 2018

Remember free college? Here's why you're hearing less about it

David Nather

Sanders speaks at a rally for then-Senate candidate Jacky Rosen in October. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty

The Wall Street Journal has a good catch on Democrats' promises during the 2018 midterms: they've quietly backed away from proposing free college, an idea that caught fire with progressive voters when Sen. Bernie Sanders ran on it in his 2016 presidential campaign.

Between the lines: The idea has faded away because Democratic strategists concluded it wouldn't help them win back white blue-collar voters, per the WSJ. As Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said, "“People don’t think it should just be free. People think there should be some responsibility." (Sanders says he's sticking with his plan.)

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Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's Health Ministry. Note: China numbers are for the mainland only and U.S. numbers include repatriated citizens.

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Clients use an ATM at a Wells Fargo Bank in Los Angeles, Calif. Photo: Ronen Tivony/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

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