>Consider that before stating without evidence that a more leftist candidate could win the general election.
The evidence is in the margins. 49.8% to 48.32% does not demonstrate that "being less like Trump is a losing proposition." Millions more people voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 after all, and she still lost. Winning by about 1% of votes cast or winning despite losing the popular vote doesn't point to some general cultural bias for Trump, or repudiation of the Democrats except by the left, who tend to sit out the vote or vote third party more than the right.
The evidence is in the margins. 49.8% to 48.32% does not demonstrate that "being less like Trump is a losing proposition." Millions more people voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 after all, and she still lost. Winning by about 1% of votes cast or winning despite losing the popular vote doesn't point to some general cultural bias for Trump, or repudiation of the Democrats except by the left, who tend to sit out the vote or vote third party more than the right.