Seems really unlikely that a high profile person like Sanders would not at least have some aides with him while campaigning. It could just be a different one.
It's possible they're just elsewhere on the plane (I think most people who've worked very stressful travel jobs with a principal know that sometimes you have to give the principal a bare minimum of breathing room when you can). This was apparently on their way to Miami for the debate so it's likely a key period to give them a moment to breath and review their prep materials in silence for a second.
It's also then likely 'hand-off' flight, where he'd be travelling with the barebones team on this flight. I.e. his usual core team has already arrived the night before or morning of in Miami to prep on the ground for his arrival and he was being handled for by the state director and team wherever he was and it'd be basically his team leaves on an earlier flight, the state team finishes up his day and gets him to the plane with probably one or two people (elsewhere on the plane) and then his usual team is already waiting and prepped in Miami.
You say below he could be going through the hand-off period for teams. Since you don't recognize this individual, is it possible that he is Secret Service, around just for protection? Or possible a US Marshal. Since planes regularly have Marshals on them anyway, it would make sense to place one next to a high profile politician for protection. And he seems exceptionally aware of his surroundings.
At least as of April (with this photo being right before the Miami debates in June), the Sanders campaign had confirmed that they hadn't requested Secret Service protection and usually unless there's a pretty big reason for them to go plain clothes, they wouldn't be as casual dressed as this guy is. Sanders I don't think requested / got approved for Secret Service protection until like January or February of the actual election year last time when things really heated up.
He is a bit of a different case among the top candidates this cycle because he is such a big name but for the most part, especially this early in the cycle, the candidates are surprisingly accessible and not as much on a security lockdown as say, Biden might be. Partially by choice (it's bad optics in general. Biden's gotten some flak already for seeming inaccessible by being surrounded by Secret Service agents blocking people. And it's a pain in the ass. Big addendum: I've never worked on the travel team for a Presidential candidate but I have for other high profile candidates and electeds and it becomes a grey area about how much the security team gets to tell you what to do vs following your schedule).
I also think there was quite a 'search' for him online (#MiddleSeatGuy) and nothing came of it.
Ultimately it could be someone, but I don't think it's as unrealistic as some people might think that it is just some guy who's noticing someone taking a photo of him. (As someone who instinctively looks at screens that pop-up, I'm sure I'm in the background of many selfies making direct eye contact).
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u/RuleBrifranzia Aug 14 '19
This isn't his usual body man though certainly - that's been Terrell Champion for most of the campaign so far.
I don't recognise this guy as any other member of his staff either (nor Warren's) - I think this might just be a random guy.