Over the long and tedious year preceding the first primary contest, Bernie was systematically downplayed in the various ‘power rankings.’
— Read on thefederalist.com/2020/02/25/why-bernie-was-always-democrats-2020-frontrunner/

Interesting:

Bernie once even belonged to a radical left-wing splinter party in Vermont that advocated the abolition of all restrictions on the Second Amendment!