WASHINGTON -- Dating can be tricky. Are things moving too fast? What are your potential partner’s views on marriage? Are they as frustrated as you that the top one-tenth of 1 percent of Americans has almost as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent?
Luckily, Bernie Singles offers the solution to those romantic (and political) concerns. The dating site for fans of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has attracted more than 1,500 single democratic socialists looking for love.
The idea for the website arose from the Facebook group Bernie Sanders' Dank Meme Singles. After seeing how the group brought together a community of Sanders fans, Bernie Singles co-founder Colten Caudle, 19, joined forces with David Boni, 22, to create a dating site for people looking to meet soul mates who are feeling the Bern.
"I originally joked about making the site, but after seeing interest, I decided to take on the project," Caudle, a political science student at Arizona State University, told The Huffington Post by email.
Caudle can point to his own success story of finding love through his passion for the Vermont senator and online networking. Through the Bernie Facebook page, Caudle connected in early February with Sadie Marie Jensen, a 20-year-old dog trainer from the Portland, Oregon, area.
A dating site specific to your favorite candidate "makes it much easier to connect with someone who shares your political views," said Caudle. "Knowing that someone else is a Bernie supporter instantly gives you plenty in common, and with Bernie in the news more often now, gives you plenty to talk about!”
The couple have yet to meet in person, but said they have been dating exclusively since Feb. 2. And they credit Sanders for bringing them together.
"I believe that Sanders supporters really come together due to the fact that we all share a lot of love and compassion for our fellow Americans, whether or not we share similar stances," Jensen told HuffPost.
"Strong-willed," "determined," "honest" and "empathetic" are among the words Jensen used to describe Sanders supporters -- including her new beau.
“Many of these qualities that Colten shares are really what swept me off my feet so quickly. I have never met such a gentleman in my life! He has a good heart,” Jensen said.
Caudle and Jensen have plans to meet face-to-face this March and have a second visit planned for April.
"It's definitely a budding relationship, but we both agree that there is a real connection and it could become something much bigger," Caudle said.
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