Can you define terms more specifically? Is AOC more popular in her district than others are in their districts? Or is AOC more popular across the country? I suspect the latter isn’t true, as she fills a relatively small niche. The former could be true, due to her district and how unpopular most politicians are.

As for Bernie, he might’ve won the primary, and possibly beaten Trump. But he would’ve been eaten alive by a Rubio or Christie, which is what everyone expected them to land on. Trump was widely regarded as a joke candidate that would disappear by election day.