Maybe old white men are about to come back into fashion. After years of progressives in academia denigrating anyone they deemed an "old, white man" as not worthy of study or respect, the "progressive" Democratic Party is becoming increasingly comfortable with an old, white dude being the de facto leader of their party and at the same time with embracing socialism.

Associated Press reports that Dem voters are digging the 74-year-old socialist from Vermont known as Bernie Sanders:

A greater percentage of Democratic registered voters view the Vermont senator as likable, honest, competent and compassionate than they did just two months ago, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Seventy-two percent now believe he could win the general election, a 21 percentage point increase from the last time the survey was conducted in December.

The findings underscore the challenge facing Hillary Clinton as she enters the Democratic contest's pivotal spring stretch, when primaries across the country mean that many of the party's voters will finally get their say on her candidacy.

While Sanders is attracting more grassroots Democrat voters he still faces an uphill battle for the party's nomination due to the "superdelegate" status given to party brass who typically back Clinton.

Though Sanders is gaining ground with Democrat voters, Clinton maintains a commanding lock on the party's leadership. An Associated Press survey of superdelegates, who are influential in picking the nominee, found that 449 of the party insiders back Clinton, while only 19 support Sanders.

If they continue to back Clinton overwhelmingly — they can change their minds— Sanders would have to win the remaining primary contests by a landslide to catch up.  

This weekend Democrats will vote in the South Carolina primary and caucus in Nevada as both states make their pick. Sanders won in New Hampshire while the two were essentially tied in Iowa.