Sanders most popular at home

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is far and away the most popular senator among his own constituents, a new Morning Consult poll reveals. The veteran lawmaker, who is also a Democratic candidate for president, scored an 83 percent approval rating among voters in Vermont. His 13 percent disapproval rating also ranks as the lowest in the country. Sanders’s closest rival for the top spot among Democrats is fellow Vermonter Sen. Patrick Leahy, who received a commendable 71 percent approval rating with just 22 percent of voters disapproving of his performance. The most popular Republican senator, among the GOP 2016 field, is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Fifty-two percent of Texans approve of his work in Congress, while 32 disapprove/ The Hill . More here.

Question: I don’t get Sanders’ phenomenon. Is it because he’s an Independent — and seems more interested in the welfare of Americans than ideology espoused by usual suspects?