72% OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS BELIEVE BERNIE SANDERS WOULD BEAT TRUMP IN 2020 ELECTION, NEW POLL SHOWS

[BigBearJohn]

Nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters believe Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont would defeat incumbent President Donald Trump if Sanders were selected to be the party's presidential nominee, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday.

Pollsters asked respondents who were Democrats or leaned Democratic which candidate they thought would win against Trump if that candidate were to represent the party in November. Seventy-two percent said that they thought Sanders would defeat Trump in a one-on-one match-up, while 24 percent thought Trump would win and 4 percent had no opinion.

Of all the Democratic candidates, Sanders was the one who respondents said they believed had the best chance of defeating the incumbent. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg performed second-best in this question—69 percent of respondents said they thought he could beat Trump in the general, while 28 percent said they thought the victory would go to Trump and 3 percent said they did not have an opinion.

SOURCE: https://www.newsweek.com/72-democratic-voters-believe-bernie-sanders-would-beat-trump-2020-election-new-poll-shows-1488010

[Rorey]

1. I hope they're right, if he gets the nomination

We need more than just Democrats to vote for him, if he gets the nomination. And remember, the Republican smear campaign against him hasn't even started yet.

[Squinch]

2. I'm not one of them.

[FarPoint]

5. I definitely am not feeling it....

No Burn for me...He can't do it....he can't motivate the necessary turn out of voting Democrats...That is how I feel thing....

[OliverQ]

68. Lol what? He's filling stadiums with tens of thousands of people.

He's winning every demographic. Turnout in early voting and primaries is breaking records.

There is no one who can bring high turnout more than Bernie. People aren't going to turnout for moderates. They will depress the vote guaranteed.

[George II]

96. "Turnout in early voting and primaries is breaking records"....

Yes, that's correct. Except that they're turning out to vote against him like they did in New Hampshire.

[katmondoo]

13. Not me either.

[Calista241]

61. I'm scared that Trump is going to win 40 states if Bernie is the nominee

It’ll be beyond the contestable range, and Bernie will set progressive causes back 30 years. In addition to giving the Repubs a 7-2 majority on the Supreme Court for decades.

[OliverQ]

70. That is absolutely ridiculous and not based on any evidence.

This isn't 1972. There are no landslide elections anymore.

Imagine actually believing the guy winning most polls, getting the most turnout, and building massive coalitions with every demographic is the one most likely to lose. That is completely illogical.

[totodeinhere]

88. Enough with the scare tactics please.

And it’s not working as this poll shows. The vast majority of Democrats believe that Bernie will be Trump.

[denem]

3. I'm not one of them either.

And there's no pleasure for me in saying so.

[Bluepinky]

4. If he wins the nomination, let's make it happen!

[dhol82]

78. Not sure we'll be able to.

[apcalc]

7. We'll be Dead in the water.

[Sloumeau]

8. I would bet that...

I would bet you that at this point, about 9 months before the general election, at least 72% of Democratic voters thought that...

Jimmy Carter would beat Ronald Reagan in 1980
Walter Mondale would beat Ronald Reagan in 1984
Michael Dukakis would beat George H.W. Bush in 1988
John Kerry would beat George W. Bush in 2004
Hillary Clinton would beat Donald Trump in 2016

Believing in Democratic candidates is normal for Democrats, just as believing in Republican candidates is normal for Republicans. Believing in them neither makes them win nor guarantees a win.

The question people really should be focusing on is, "Why do 24 percent think that Bernie Sanders would lose to a weak President like Donald Trump?".

Perhaps they realize how incredibly hard it is for Democratic Socialists to get elected to office in this country. Perhaps they realize that in the 100 member Senate, only one member is a Democratic Socialist (Bernie Sanders). Perhaps they realize that there are only 3 Democratic Socialists among the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Perhaps they also realize that the only reason that those three Democratic Socialist reps got elected is that they are in lopsidedly blue districts, and the only reason that that Democratic Socialist Senator got elected is because he is in a lopsidedly blue state. Perhaps the 24% of Democratic voters just realize something that the 72% do not.

[Martin Eden]

25. Stop making sense

It is important for people to hold onto their beliefs, misguided or not.

[thesquanderer]

55. re: "Why do 24 percent think that Bernie Sanders would lose to a weak President like Donald Trump?"

Yes, and similarly, why do even BIGGER amounts think each of our OTHER candidates would lose to a weak President like Trump?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

57. Why do 28% believe Biden would lose to trump?

[Sloumeau]

58. They have probably been listening to...

Bernie Sanders telling people that a Moderate cannot win, even though Hillary Clinton got almost 3 millions more votes than Donald Trump. As to why they believe Bernie Sanders when he says this, your guess is as good as mine.

[still_one]

9. I can tell you most Democratic voters also thought McGovern would beat Nixon

A meaningless poll, especially since the majority of people identify as independents according to Gallop

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Never going to happen

Voters are being deluded and polls are being skewed by Republicans responding to get their preferred candidate to help Trump win.

[2naSalit]

11. With the recent news of interference

in the primaries, I would take all polls with a grain of salt, well maybe a big chunk of salt.

I will be coming to my own conclusions from watching what everyone does rather than trust possibly tainted information.

[CentralMass]

14. Bernie seems to be overcoming the interference nicely but thank you for the concern.

[LanternWaste]

47. Of course you'll say that... and without data to support it.

Bias is a human condition, but much like flinging our poop from the trees, it's something a rational mind *can* overcome, regardless of thanks or concern.

[Me.]

16. I Agree

I am suspicious of all these polls rocketing BS to the top

[2naSalit]

17. It was Bloomberg last week.

I expect rotating offenses and well funded assaults of every kind imaginable. I'm glad I can limit my exposure and remain active beyond simply casting a vote... because it will require more than just a vote. I feel that active measures on our part will become necessary before July.

[nobuddy]

21. My coffee pot didn't turn on this morning

I suspect it was the Russians.

[dware]

23. Damn Russians,

My truck had a low tire this morning, musta been the Russians.

[nobuddy]

24. I burned my toast too

F’n Russians

[dware]

26. Now you owe me a new computer,

I spit my coffee all over the screen.
Thanks for the laughs, it's a good way to start a long day of driving.

[nobuddy]

30. The Russians owe you a new computer

[nobuddy]

12. They didn't poll me

therefore this doesn't count

[hangaleft]

15. In all candor, I don't believe it

Just look at DU. Posters here are more informed, current and plugged in than the general populace, and there’s no fucking way 72% of DUers believe Sanders would beat Trump. If anything, l think the converse is true — 70% of DUers (including me, and I’m a lefty) probably believe that Sanders doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the GE.

I don’t know where that poll came from, but I give it no credence whatsoever. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

[bluesxtreme]

19. DU does not represent the General

This is not a 1:1 DU does not equal will of the people or thoughts of people.

[hangaleft]

38. I predict that if Sanders is our nominee he will carry one state

Vermont.

And. That. Is. All.

[nobuddy]

40. lol

why not gild the lily and say zero states?

[Zolorp]

18. That's a pretty naive belief.

[still_one]

28. I would suggest that MOST DEMOCRATS believe that the Democratic nominee would prevail over the

republican in ANY general election

[Zolorp]

35. Most Democrats would be wrong about Sanders

I guarantee it. Sanders would suffer a devastating defeat.

[still_one]

39. I agree, what I was pointing out was that the poll is nonsense.

[thesquanderer]

51. Yes, all polls of "who do you think would win" are nonsense.

Asking people who they would vote for will give you an idea of who would win. Asking people who they think would win tells you who they think OTHER people would vote for (why not just ask the other people and be sure?), and/or tell you what they've read about previous polling. Pointless.

[Fran2020]

20. 72%! Count me in.

I think Bernie would beat Trump like a drum and bring back the FDR era of Democrats.

[dware]

22. Hey, you forgot this.

or this.

[lapfog_1]

27. wishful thinking

72 percent of Democrats are idiots.

An avowed socialist who surrounds himself with liars is never going to win. This only works with reactionary pseudo conservatives like Trump... it doesn't work for our side.

[William769]

29. ...

[ucrdem]

31. If Bloomberg came in second, this is a pre-debate poll

And 20 million plus watched the debate. We're in the thick of it now and things are moving fast.

[Demsrule86]

63. I don't agree. Debates are not widely watched. And Bloomberg has 100's of ads running in Ohio.

I have also seen Bloomberg signs...in quite a few places which means he has an active campaign in Ohio already. I hope Biden can knock off rivals and win the nomination...some moderates must drop out. If it comes between Sanders (sure loss) and Bloomberg (maybe a chance), I will be forced to go with Bloomberg as the only one left who possibly can get rid of Trump.

[berksdem]

32. not me

[evertonfc]

33. evidence says otherwise but Go for it

but if you want to nominate a Democratic socialist as the head of the Democratic party you will lose the WH and lose House seats. Middle America and the Southeast will not elect a Democratic Socialist. Period. End of conversation. It's why moderates won here in 18 and 19 and Sanders backed candidates didn't. You think America is represebtive of the coasts. I'll bet my 25 years working local and state campaigns from FL to GA to TN that Trump will beat Sanders in historic fashion.

[Zolorp]

36. I bet it would split the party in two

About half the Democrats I know who swear they will never vote for Sanders also say they will leave a party that would nominated a Socialist.

[nobuddy]

41. is your evidence another poll?

[thesquanderer]

52. Actually, evidence (other polls) says that Sanders would probably win...

...and would likely do better against Trump than any other candidate except for Biden. (There hasn't been much polling with Bloomberg yet.)

I'm hoping Warren starts coming up in those polls...

[unc70]

37. Almost identical result for Bloomberg!

After the debate, probably not so much for Bloonberg

[dbolski]

42. I'm one of those people.

[nevergiveup]

43. That 75% were obviously not around in 1972.

By October this year a billion dollars will have been spent convincing a good majority of Americans that Bernie Sanders is a communist.
That is all you need to know.

[nobuddy]

53. For the naive young people not around in 1972

1972 United States presidential election

Real Clear Politics: Sanders vs Trump

[standingtall]

81. I wasn't alive then but I know Trump is nowhere near as popular as Nixon was in 72

and also Nixon hadn't been impeached yet. Trump has.

[Raftergirl]

44. It doesn't matter what Democrats believe

any D nominee must have the support of Independents and Never Trumpers to win in the states we lost last time (Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.) Picking up Arizona and NC will also be problematic.

The Trumplicans don’t even have to say “Socialist” - “Radical left wing” will work just fine.

[highplainsdem]

45. Statistical tie between Sanders, Bloomberg & Biden. 72/69/68%. Within the MOE.

But the most relevant number is Biden's, since he's the one still polling well against Trump after a year of attacks.

Bloomberg's being attacked by Trump and the GOP, but only recently. They're clearly afraid of him, though.

Sanders isn't under attack yet, because Trump and the GOP want him to be the nominee, since they're sure he has enlough baggage that they can destroy him if he gets the nomination.

[thesquanderer]

54. With MOE, a bell curve centered on 72 is better than a bell curve centered on 68,

even though there will be some area where the curves overlap, MOE doesn't mean all results within that range are equally likely... the ones closer to the center of the curve are more likely than the ones further away. So calling it a "statistical tie" can be misleading. (Though as I posted elsewhere, this particular poll question is kinda pointless anyway.)

[Uncle Joe]

46. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread BigBearJohn.

[BigBearJohn]

56. My pleasure Joe

[uponit7771]

48. ✨✨✨✨✨IRRELEVANT !!!!✨✨✨✨✨ Sanders has no swing state appeal !!!

[JudyM]

83. Do you appreciate the irony

of continuous repetition of the same points in the context of a candidacy that causes you such ire for doing the same?

[emmaverybo]

49. In swing states, in 6 out of 7, Biden beats Trump by the widest margin. What does that mean?

[uponit7771]

69. +1, it means we'll have a McGovern candidate and people will swear up and down they didn't

... now Sanders wasn't viable during the GE.

I swear people will be shocked on election day.

We >>> KNOW <<< the dem candidate has to be outside of the MOE to win and Sanders is not while Biden is in most of those states.

Most of the media for the sake of "Horse Race" is putting their fingers in their ears when it comes to Sanders

[emmaverybo]

85. The media is very much propelling Sanders. Unfortunately, so are Russia and Trump.

[Blue_Tires]

50. A ham sandwich should be able to beat Trump

[BigBearJohn]

59. Bingo!!!

[uponit7771]

71. Then why isn't Sanders doing better than Biden in the swing states against Trump? Sanders is

... losing or within MOE for last 3 months while Biden is outside of MOE IE reason why Red Don was impeached because of him.

It looks like people ignored McGovern polling against Nixon I pray we don't repeat the same thing on a different day

[MrsCoffee]

60. With a little help from Russia.

But things are about to change and the vetting is about to get real.

[Demsrule86]

62. Can't believe any such polls... probably infiltrated by Russians and Republicans.

[SidDithers]

64. Isn't that kinda low?...

Sid

[BootinUp]

66. Of course. It's a HUGE RED FLAG. Nt

[uponit7771]

75. YES !!! It should be in the 90s !!!! OMFG, we're being screamed at that Sanders isn't a good candida

... candidate.

His swing state numbers aren't better than Biden's either.

[Stargleamer]

65. What is far MORE relevant is what INDEPENDENTS think

we couldn't even contest Florida if Bernie becomes the nominee. If he becomes the nominee we all lose.

[OliverQ]

72. Bernie is beating Trump with independents by 18 points.

Higher than any other candidate.

So apparently you don't actually care what independents think since the majority support Bernie.

[uponit7771]

82. National polls mean nothing to little, swing state polling

[Stargleamer]

91. The election won't be decided nationally

but in individual states like Wisconsin, Arizona, etc. And all it takes is a barrage of ads linking Bernie to the USSR, Cuba, etc. for him to lose among independents. If Sanders is up by just 2 points (a big if) in Wisconsin, and a couple of points (perhaps) in Florida, Trump's barrage of negative ads will erase that and then some.

[HarlanPepper]

73. That's what I'm thinking

I’m not worried about Democrats.

[uponit7771]

77. No, national inde polls mean NOTHING. Swing state polls mean EVERYTHING because we don't have

... democratically elected republican president any longer and dem candidates have to poll outside of MOE to win in those states.

Biden does both, Sanders does not in most of the swing states this year in the last 3 months

[Stargleamer]

92. I agree with you

what I meant to say but didn't clearly indicate is how Sanders stands vs. Trump among Independents in swing states. At best right now he's just a few points up in such states which will quickly evaporate once the red-baiting begins.

[OliverQ]

76. Yup.

They're completely immune to facts. They keep claiming Bernie can't win, despite him winning most polls, pulling in tens of thousands of people at rallies, and doing the best with every demographic except older people (which this board is primarily made up of.)

[RandySF]

79. 40% of Democrats don't know he's a socialist

[Bonobo]

80. Cause he's not

You: But he says he is

Me: That doesn't mean he is

You: But it's what matters

Me: But you said he WAS a socialist

You: He admits it himself

Me: That doesn't mean he is one, you know.

Rinse repeat.

Meanwhile people don't CARE because they actually know more than you apparently.

[BilltheCat]

84. that's nice but what I'd really like to see is some hard strategic plans as to how.

[USALiberal]

86. Great nt

[totodeinhere]

87. I am one of the 72% who believes that Bernie would beat Trump.

In fact I think he is the only one who can beat Trump

[redstateblues]

89. Consider FL gone the second Bernie is nominated

A lot of whistling past the graveyard on DU. I’m especially concerned about losing the House. Democratic candidates are already distancing them self from Sanders. Barring some poorly handled crisis, the chances of four more years of Trump are becoming more likely with every primary. Sickening

[CrawlingChaos]

90. We are going to WIN!!!

[LAS14]

93. So why do we think these Americans have crystal balls? The only question..

... anyone is qualified to answer is "Who will YOU vote for for president?" Given different pairs of Dem and GOP candidates.

[doc03]

94. Do a poll in PA, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin and what about Florida

he lost that last night praising Castro. He lost PA and Ohio for sure when he said he would stop fracing. Ask independents and
moderate Republicans.