In a Gallup poll conducted shortly after the first round of Democratic debates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden continue to enjoy the highest favorability ratings of all major Democratic contenders among the party's base. Both are viewed favorably by roughly seven in 10 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. Eight other candidates tested in the poll fall below 60% favorability, but this is mainly because they are less well-known, not because they are disliked.
|
Favorable |
Unfavorable |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
Bernie Sanders |
72 |
17 |
11 |
Joe Biden |
69 |
17 |
14 |
Elizabeth Warren |
59 |
13 |
29 |
Kamala Harris |
54 |
11 |
34 |
Cory Booker |
44 |
13 |
43 |
Pete Buttigieg |
43 |
10 |
47 |
Beto O'Rourke |
37 |
19 |
43 |
Julian Castro |
35 |
14 |
50 |
Amy Klobuchar |
31 |
13 |
57 |
Bill de Blasio |
31 |
30 |
39 |
— news.gallup.com/...
The poll was taken after the debates. It’s important to note that other candidates are still not as well recognized as Bernie or Biden. Gallup found that candidate favorability ratings had not changed significantly after the debate, with one exception. Biden’s favorability had slipped.
The general poll numbers though, are not as encouraging. Trump’s favorability among the general population is as high as Bernie’s demonstrating the polarized nature of the electorate.
Although Sanders and Biden both lead Trump in recent general election horse-race polls, Trump's favorable rating among Americans, 45%, is on par with theirs. All other Democrats' U.S. favorable ratings lag far behind, mainly a reflection of large segments of Americans being unable to rate them. (See tables linked above Survey Methods.)
Trump compares less favorably to Biden and Sanders when one takes their unfavorable scores into account. On that basis, Biden enjoys a net-positive image from Americans, and Sanders' rating is -2, while Trump's image is -7.
If the electorate is polarized, then we really must question whether a strategy of triangulation and centrism is going to be successful.
I believe a centrist candidate, a candidate who appears insincere in their positions, or a candidate who tries pivots to the center will lose in 2020.
BTW, if you believe the media has learned anything since 2016, you’re mistaken.
— @subirgrewal