Things are about to get very real in the next month for Democrats who are looking to choose a presidential nominee. A huge slate of delegates is up for grabs in many states in early March on Super Tuesday.

We hope those who are interested in the process and future of the country step forward to vote, whether they consider themselves mainstream Democrats, independents or even moderate Republicans turned off by President Trump. Their goal should be to give the American people a real choice this fall. The only way to do that is to nominate someone who is not Bernie Sanders.

It is scary and stupid that the Vermont senator has garnered so much support from an energized progressive wing of the Democratic Party. If fellow socialist Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts ends up leaving the race, given her poor showings so far, Sanders will gain even more momentum.

Bernie Sanders has apparently never picked up a book on world history or basic economics. Nor ever noticed the failure and misery of communist/socialist states such as Cuba or Venezuela. There have been plenty of other red-faced ranters against capitalism over time. When they succeed, their countries and their people do not.

We cannot say we would support a Democratic nominee over President Trump, given what we believe is Trump’s stellar economic record, and his belief in freedom and opportunity. But the nation is closely divided and either side could win. If there is a Democrat in the White House in 2021, it needs to be someone with common sense. Someone who wants businesses to succeed so that workers have jobs. Someone who knows the difference between reality and a bitter ideology. We hope Democrats can find him or her.