Poll: Obama Ekes Out 71-Point Lead Aginst Bernie Sanders in Theoretical Primary Challenge

[oberliner]

Is it a slow enough news day to speculate about primary challenges to Barack Obama? No, but Magellan Strategies has polled the question in New Hampshire, so we have to speculate about it anyway. And the gist: Obama currently faces no serious primary threat.

Magellan, commissioned by NHJournal.com, polled 1002 registered voters, including 661 Democrats and 341 independents, who can vote in the either party's primary. (Minor caveat: Because all of the action in 2012 will be on the Republican side, it's likely that fewer independents will pull a Democratic ballot than they did in the 2008 primary.) Obama's favorable rating among Democrats is 91.2 percent; among all of the voters likely to vote in the Democratic primary, he has a 77.3 percent approval rating. So, no surprise that the trial heats go like this:

Barack Obama - 59 percent
Hillary Clinton - 28 percent

Barack Obama - 78 percent
Howard Dean - 10 percent

Barack Obama - 79 percent
Bernie Sanders - 8 percent

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/weigel/archive/2010/12/17/poll-obama-ekes-out-71-point-lead-in-possible-bernie-sanders-primary-challenge.aspx

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Let me guess: President Palin?

[dennis4868]

2. I wonder if Obama is feeling the heat about now?

hahahahaha! :-)

[Number23]

21. lol!! Good one!

:thumbsup:

[Aramchek]

3. that was good for a laugh

:)

[DJ13]

4. Its early yet, give Obama time to move further right

[BeyondGeography]

5. Bernie Sanders fought the good fight, did not make things personal

and is undeserving of any ridicule.

Not helpful.

[bigwillq]

16. How is this ridicule?

I didn't click the link, but I don't think anything in the OP is offensive.

[Ikonoklast]

19. Yep, not helpful. Just like the 'primary Obama' whiners.

They were the ones promoting Bernie as Democratic primary challenger...except, they forgot one thing.

He's not a Democrat.

[bowens43]

6. kind of a ridiculous poll don't you think?

seriously stupid.

[DeSwiss]

7. ....

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[damntexdem]

9. I'd still vote for Sanders, or Dean, even for Hillary.

Then, when Obama gets the nomination, I'll vote for him, but I won't lift a finger to work for him (nor donate to either him or the national Democratic Party).

[WI_DEM]

10. Even HRC is running more than 30-points behind--she would have been the only serious

contender, but of course she isn't going to run and has said so repeatedly--as has Howard Dean.

[Still a Democrat]

12. Making Hillary SOS all but eliminated any possibility

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." - Sun-Tzu, Chinese military leader

[Exilednight]

32. You forgot the rest of Obama's tactic

"abandon your platform and co-opt your enemies after victory." - Obama 2008

[Larkspur]

11. How many of those polled knew who Bernie Sanders was?

I bet most don't but if you described what Sanders believed versus Obama, most would side with Sanders.

[Smashcut]

13. Interesting. Reminds me of Hillary's numbers pre-2008

before anyone mounted a serious campaign against her.

Hmm...

[Uzybone]

14. a squeaker

[bigwillq]

15. I would proudly vote for Dean or Sanders.

But there won't be a serious primary challenge to Obama in 2012. Someone, or two, will run, but they will get little support, from the party and the voters, imo.

[TwilightGardener]

17. +1000 for use of the word "ekes"...

:spray:

[Still a Democrat]

18. No way - the actual margin would be half this

:)

[Number23]

20. Notice they didn't even bother doing matchups against Kuch, Feingold, Grayson

And yet, the unending cries of "Grayson/Kucinich/Feingold 2012!!!" will continue to blanket DU. :eyes:

[martymar64]

22. Senator Sanders is not a Democrat.

No primary is needed for him to run in the General Election.

[zulchzulu]

23. Mental masturbation n/t

[Dokkie]

24. what i would like to see

is Grayson's polling numbers. Hes charismatic, young, articulate, principled and willing to put up a fight unlike Obama. Give him time and a Grayson would defeat him in a primary. I think Sanders biggest draw back is the age, americans always discriminate by age. But good luck to all the challengers, may the best man/woman win

[geek tragedy]

25. Grayson just got his ass handed to him by Dan Webster.

Complete destruction. Floor wiping, cleat marks on the face.

If he can't get within 20 points of Dan Webster, he ain't a viable Presidential candidate.

[avaistheone1]

26. Only due to money bombs from the likes of the Koch brothers.

I think Grayson would be a fine presidential candidate. I know that many people would walk across party lines to vote for him.

[avaistheone1]

27. .

[Donald Ian Rankin]

41. And people wouldn't donate money against him if he ran for president? N.T.

[Dokkie]

35. so what?

replace Obama's name with Grayson and he would lose by a bigger margin. The fact that he even won in that heavy conservative district just shows how well he will perform in a purple/light red district.

Grayson 2012

[avaistheone1]

28. I feel like I would be throwing my vote away to give it to Obama.

At this point I feel betrayed. I would feel like I would be voting for Bush if I voted for Obama again.

I rather we have another Democratic candidate.

[impik]

29. NOOOOOOOO! W ARE DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!

[MH1]

33. too bad that's about10.5 years too late

the 'W' are doomed part, that is. :)

[Union Scribe]

30. With those margins, how can anyone say it would hurt Obama's general election?

It's not like you have to dig deep in the war chest to win with those numbers, right? So people can stop with the charges that a primary would assure us President Palin, right?

[4dsc]

31. I'd vote for Dean in a heartbeat.

eom

[mikekohr]

43. The Good Doctor Has Spoken On the Foolishness of a Primary Challenge to President Obama

The good governor and finest DNC chair we have had in a generation in not going to run. He's telling people not to run. Gov. Dean is a pragmatic progressive. Results matter. Actions have consequences.

The Republicans are betting we ignore Dr. Dean's advice and wisdom. I won't.

[Change Happens]

34. :)

[backscatter712]

36. Sanders is awesome, knows how to play the game in DC, so he's not going to run. n/t

[krabigirl]

37. Enough with the inane polls. This administration sure loves its polls, doesn't it?

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

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[ClarkUSA]

39. Democrats who dislike Pres. Obama are in a small minority. Bookmarked for future reference. nt

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

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[hulka38]

42. Message to all you herd animals

don't let it leave you behind.

[backscatter712]

44. A serious primary challenge is not going to happen.

Not for the 2012 election. There's not enough support for it.

[HipChick]

45. +100..