I stand by it. Bernie is the ONLY left leaning politician I've heard working class Republican voters even kind of agree with on a base humanistic level. "Ya know I don't like the whole socialist thing, but I like what he has to say". I really think Bernie's candidness or his genuiness really appeals to voters, and Hilary had absolutely none of that.
Trump in 2016 isn't the albatross and figurehead of the GOP like he is today. That race was there for the taking, and the Dems put up the most unlikeable, weak retread candidate they could have picked, as usual, the safest status quo choice.
People were excited to vote for Bernie. People were indifferent about Hillary and it cost them the election and still today.