One of the zombie memes of this election cycle is that while Sanders is the better candidate on the issues and has been a consistent supporter of progressive values all his life, we should vote for the warmongering, oligarchy-supporting Hillary Clinton because despite her dubious past policy positions and doubtful integrity, she is the more ‘electable’ candidate.
This idea that she will win against the Republican nominee while Sanders will lose has been shown to be wrong in poll after poll and now a new CNN/ORC poll confirms that.
Both Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Hillary Clinton would beat Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump in a general election, according to a CNN/ORC poll of national voters released Tuesday morning.
Sanders led Trump with an 12-point lead, 55 to 43 percent. In the January iteration of the poll, Sanders only led by three points.
Sanders also beat Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) by eight points and beat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) by 17 points in head-to-head match-ups.
Clinton beat Trump with an 8-point lead, 52 to 44 percent. This is a sharp increase from the 1- to 2-point leads she had over the real estate mogul in the December and January versions of the poll.
Clinton lost to Rubio by three points and lost to Cruz by one point in head-to-head match-ups. [My emphaisis-MS}
But this will not stop the political and media establishment from continuing to bolster Clinton by arguing that she is the more electable candidate.
The problem is she is only has an 8 point lead over Donald Trump. After she experiences serious negative campaigning, it will tighten by a lot at least, if not flip completely. Marc Rich and John Podesta are huge vulnerabilities for Hillary Clinton, and once Sanders drops out Trump can amp up anti-corruption rhetoric as he is then becomes the least corrupt of all the candidates. Hillary Clinton’s media ties are nullified by Trump’s bully pulpit campaign style. I’d honestly be surprised if she loses by only a few points.
Also, the reason Sanders hasn’t been able to increase voter turnout is that the Dems are not spending much money on the Get Out The Votes campaign. A new voter is likely a new Sanders voter.
I am not happy about having a 2nd Clinton presidency, but that is far preferable to having a Republican win.
John @1, really, you think Clinton hasn’t experienced negative campaigning? She has been through the wringer for the past 30 years. The opposite is true about Sanders. The Republicans have barely touched him, even puffed him up a bit (“while I disagree with him, he is someone you can trust to say what he is thinking and I can respect that”). If Sanders was the nominee, the right wing noise machine would have a field day.
Because some people point out problems with Sanders, does not mean he’s the least evil of many evil choices.
I agree that he’s the least bad choice. I suppose it might be interesting to argue who’s worse: Clinton or Trump …
Well, sadly, that’s what you wind up when you play a zero-sum game of worse come to worst.
I wish ill to few, though I do with all politicians be stricken with the plague.m For the good of all.