Let's have some fun with political fearmongering today

Did you know that 66.6% of candidates for U.S. House seats endorsed by the national Democratic Socialists of America organization won their primary elections this year?

Now let's demolish that fear with context.

That 66.6% means only two of the three DSA-endorsed House candidates won Democratic primaries this year, in Philadelphia in May and then in Denver in June. The third nationally endorsed DSA candidate, Oliver Larkin, was defeated in the Aug. 18 Democratic primary by incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz.

There are plenty of lessons to learn from what some wags are calling the "sexy socialist summer." And there are many cautionary tales about right-wingers trying to demonize a rise of progressive candidates. It's a topsy-turvy campaign season, where money matters until it doesn't, and polling shows massive leads that evaporate when the votes are cast.

Angie Nixon's win in Florida is a lesson about political fundraising

The Florida race that really caused a stir saw underfunded Angie Nixon, a state lawmaker, edge Alex Vindman by nearly 4 percentage points on Aug. 18 for the Democratic nomination. She will challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody in November.

Nixon, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, was not endorsed by the DSA.

Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, gained national name recognition as a key witness in........

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