Wisconsin Straw Poll: Clinton 49 Percent, Sanders 41 Percent - John Nichols/The Nation [View all]

[WillyT]

Wisconsin Straw Poll: Clinton 49 Percent, Sanders 41 Percent
John Nichols - The Nation
June 7, 2015 - 4:53 PM ET

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More than 500 Wisconsin Democrats participated in a presidential straw poll at their state party convention over the weekend, and they sent a powerful signal about the potential of the challenge Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is mounting to presumed Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

Clinton still maintains a wide lead in national polls and in those from early battleground states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. But the delegates, alternates and registered guests at the Wisconsin party convention -- among the state's most activist Democrats -- gave Sanders 41 percent support to 49 percent for Clinton.

The breakdown of the straw poll vote, which was conducted by the well-regarded politics website www.wispolitics.com, was:

Hillary Clinton 252

Bernie Sanders 208

Joe Biden 16

Martin O’Malley 16

Jim Webb 8

Lincoln Chafee 5

No vote 1

(Write-ins)

Elizabeth Warren 4

Tom Vilsack 1

The senator has been a regular visitor to Wisconsin over the years, as a frequent speaker at the annual "Fighting Bob Fest" gatherings, which draw thousands of Wisconsin activists to outdoor events each September. He has lauded the legacy of former Wisconsin U.S. Senator Robert M. La Follette, who mounted an independent progressive campaign for the presidency in 1924, and of the democratic socialists who led Milwaukee for much of the 20th century. In recent years, he had worked with Ed Garvey, a former gubernatorial candidate, on a host of issues.

Perhaps most importantly, Sanders is an enthusiastic backer of organized labor – a stance that resonates with Wisconsin activists who, over the past four years, have battled the anti-union initiatives of the administration of Governor Scott Walker.

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More: http://www.thenation.com/blog/209353/wisconsin-straw-poll-clinton-49-percent-sanders-41-percent