Bernie SandersVermont Senator Bernie Sanders is the longest of long shots to prevent the coronation of Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee for President.

The feisty independent candidate though is the best hope that a dose of reality will be injected in both Democratic and Republican campaigns that mostly have been about stagecraft, cash and cheap political attacks. Brooklyn-born Bernie is the real thing.

In contrast to Clinton's high-profile announcement and inch-by-inch orchestrated roll-out in Iowa, Sanders took on hoard of journalists and curious onlookers outside the Capitol yesterday to explain why he's up to the challenge. The 73-year-old politico doesn't plan a formal kick-off of the campaign until May 26 in Burlington, where he once served as Mayor. Burlington which is a lovely town, is hardly the nation's media center.

Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist, doesn't have a fraction of the campaign infrastructure of the Clinton Machine and her $1B to $2B war chest. In contrast to his moneybags opponent, Bernie doesn't plan to set up a "super PAC" to suck in donations. He plans to rely on "a movement of small donors."

Sanders, whom the New York Times, referred to as a "grumpy grandfather-type," revels in his reputation for being gruff, bold and honest.

He's already knocked the fund-raising practices of the Clinton Foundation, and will challenge Hillary on healthcare (single-payer Medicare system for everyone), economy, Wall Street reform, income inequality, foreign policy and environment. It will be a face-off between grandparents.

Sanders will force Clinton to flesh out her positions, which will ultimately make her a stronger candidate. She deserves to tip her hat to Bernie.

And now if only Virginia's Jim Webb and Massachusetts' Lizzie Warren would throw their hats into the ring to make things more interesting for Clinton and country.