Followers of Trump, Sanders Alike: SXU Prof

CHICAGO, IL - Their politics may not mirror each other’s in any way, shape or form, but Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders have something in common, a philosophy professor at Saint Xavier University says.

“In some instances, not all obviously, Sanders touches the same type of people that Donald Trump does,” according to Rob Shapiro, who has a law degree from the University of Chicago and teaches political philosophy among other courses at SXU.

“Sanders is obviously not garnering to the angry right-wing voters, but this other mass of voters looking for someone who can speak for them,” Shapiro said.

On the Republican side, Shapiro describes Trump supporters as people who “feel disenfranchised or underrepresented by the elite.”

“They see Trump as not the great savior, but as an outsider who isn’t going to be part of the establishment. Some (of his supporters) are more vocal and angry, but there’s a fair number who are just ordinary people and frustrated and dissatisfied with what they’ve seen.”

Similar to what’s being seen on the Democratic side with Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.

“He is an outsider, not an establishment candidate or elite and has been attractive for that reason,” Shapiro said.

But Sanders’ attractiveness as that alternative candidate has not translated into a lead in the primary delegate count like Trump’s has.

• Related: Donald Trump Threatens to Blast Chicago Cubs Owners in TV Ads

“One reason he is exceeding expectations is because the political experts don’t know what the expectations are in this case,” Shapiro said. “Some who feel they are ignored or neglected...they see Trump as an answer to that.”

“I think that’s a mistake, and (Trump) is not what they are hoping for,” the professor added, noting that he is not a supporter of Trump and personally doesn’t know anyone who is.

Leading Sanders in the delegate count on the Democratic side is Hillary Clinton, who Shapiro says is “not a very good candidate,” but “may make a good president.”

“She has had a lot of difficulty dealing with Sanders and sometimes does not know what to do about him,” Shapiro said.

But adopting some of Sanders’ themes has helped, though, and carrying Illinois was no surprise.

“Illinois has always been a blue state - not just by voting Democratic, but by voting for the establishment candidate,” Shapiro said.