Gallup: In United States, Socialist Presidential Candidates Are The Least Appealing

[Cali_Democrat]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the 2016 presidential election field takes shape, more than nine in 10 Americans say they would vote for a qualified presidential candidate who is Catholic, a woman, black, Hispanic or Jewish. Less than half of Americans would vote for a candidate who is a socialist.



<....>

Independent Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, is the only Jewish candidate in the race. And while a large majority of Americans are willing to vote for a candidate of his faith, Sanders' self-identification as a socialist could hurt him, as half of Americans say they would not vote for someone with that background.

In addition, several candidates have heavily courted the evangelical community -- including Republicans Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Carson, Santorum and Cruz.

Democrats and Republicans vary in their support for candidates of particular religious affiliations.

Republicans (84%) are significantly more likely than Democrats (66%) to say they will vote for an evangelical candidate. But Democrats are more likely to say they will vote for a Muslim (73%) or an atheist (64%) than are Republicans, of whom less than half say they are willing to vote for a candidate with either of these belief systems.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/183713/socialist-presidential-candidates-least-appealing.aspx?utm_source=Politics&utm_medium=newsfeed&utm_campaign=tiles

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Our nightly stink bomb, eh?

Once people find out what a Socialist actually is, they'll realize that they already are one.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. This election cycle will be the most expensive in history

The republicans will have an insane amount of money to spend.

Obama had an amazing ability to withstand GOP attacks. Politics is blood sport.

I'm curious about Bernie's ability to withstand those attacks, especially if he's not going to raise a whole lot of money compared to the Republicans.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Bernie's a shrinking violet, eh?

LOL!

[OilemFirchen]

13. Once people find out what a Libertarian actually is...

I knew I'd heard that before.

[MineralMan]

60. It's a Gallup poll, not a stink bomb.

I suspect that most people are not going to bother learning what a socialist is, actually. Most people couldn't tell you who the Secretary of State is, and don't care.

Labels are important in elections, especially general elections. What those labels actually signify is far less important to most people, though.

People on DU post poll information. Polls are interesting to those who follow politics. Poll results are not "stink bombs." They are information. Sanders' supporters made a great deal of New Hampshire polling that showed Bernie Sanders rising quickly in that state. Clinton supporters made a great deal of a national poll that shows Hillary Clinton with 75% numbers for the primary.

All polling should be posted, so people can look at the numbers and make their own evaluation of them. Sniping about a poll you don't like being posted and calling the post a "stink bomb" is just showing a bias for or against some outcome. It's just a poll. Whether it's meaningful is up for question, but it's just information.

[moondust]

2. And maybe 90% of them

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couldn't tell you the difference between socialism and totalitarian communism. Hardcore capitalists and wingnuts at least since McCarthy and the Red Scare have lumped them all together and demonized them as the Devil himself.

[restorefreedom]

5. wow i am really hearing the hard sell.

me thinks fear is behind it.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Looking on the bright side, he's only got to get a bump of 3.1% to win an election.

[Renew Deal]

7. What's weird about it is that most of the candidates of both parties are either socialists

or support some socialist policies.

[former9thward]

48. I think your definition of socialism may vary from reality...

[marmar]

8. Hoo boy. New week. New PsyOps meme.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Gallop==trust==NOT.

[HooptieWagon]

10. Then why are the Hillary shills so worried?

[WillyT]

11. Yep... Let The Games Begin...

[winter is coming]

12. That's an excellent question.

A lot of effort is being expended against a candidate who's allegedly a no-hoper.

[HooptieWagon]

17. Well, the sHillarys get the daily talking points...

...perhaps the internal polling isn't as inevitable.

[leftofcool]

55. Yea, you wish.

[sufrommich]

57. "the sHillarys"

Gosh,I hope for your sake Sean Hannity doesn't have a copyright on that term yet.

[Romulox]

58. Frantic, even! nt

[Cha]

63. The "Hillary Shills"? says the Bernie "shill"..

[Bonobo]

14. Why would voting for the "most popular" candidate in the Primaries make any sense? nt

[Cali_Democrat]

15. Bernie self identifies as a democratic socialist

This poll shows that half of Americans would never vote for a socialist.

That could be a problem in a general election.

[Bonobo]

16. Yes, it could.

Probably will.

[HooptieWagon]

19. As big a probablem as half never voting for Hillary.

[Cali_Democrat]

20. True.....

There are a lot of folks who say they would never vote for her or think she's untrustworthy.

That's a big vulnerability for her.

However, if you look at the recent NBC/WSJ poll, Hillary beats every GOP candidate head to head.

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. Bernie Sanders has won 14 elections. Tell me again how many Hillary Clinton has won?

[Thinkingabout]

28. Hillary has only run twice, Bernie lost his first and second election

Guess the odds are against Bernie.

[JI7]

35. she won about 20 states in 2008 presidential primary and the 2 senate elections

[cherokeeprogressive]

38. What seat did she occupy after winning 20 elections?

Oops.

[JI7]

39. sec of state

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. Damn... she WON that election; what's wrong with me?

[JI7]

41. well, it didn't hurt her much as she is leading right now

good thing Obama isn't running against her.

[cherokeeprogressive]

42. Good thing for HER you mean, right?

[JI7]

44. and anyone who supports her

i would support Obama again if he was running.

[cherokeeprogressive]

45. Right now, with TPP hanging in the balance and Obama going whole hawg while Hillary vacillates...

I'd support neither.

[LanternWaste]

61. Creative irrelevancy.

Creative irrelevancy. Indicative of lack of substance or valid premise. But still creative.

[DemocraticWing]

21. Only 59% of Democrats would vote for a socialist...

But I guarantee that more than 59% of Democrats would vote for Bernie Sanders if he got the nomination. Bernie Sanders is not defined by socialism, and I don't think Americans' opinions of either him or socialism are as easily reduced to this one question.

What I find interesting is that a solid majority of Democrats are already willing to vote for a socialist, and nearly 70% of people under 30 would too. The party may be in for a major change on how we treat labels like "democratic socialist" and "social democrat," and I think that's a wonderful thing. The Cold War is over, and hopefully we don't have to wait too much longer for everybody to understand this.

[Art_from_Ark]

26. I think they're trying to resurrect the Cold War

For example, Hillary talked about showing strength against "traditional enemies like Russia" in her Roosevelt Island speech. I wouldn't be surprised if she got that talking point from her mentor, Henry Kissinger.

[Thinkingabout]

29. Talking points? She doesn't need talking points, she is right on the issues, I think

Bernie will continue to run with Hillary's stands on the issues.

[NRaleighLiberal]

22. I love the smell of desperation in the morning! (or evening, as it were)

[Cali_Democrat]

23. What issues do you have with the polling methodology?

[stevenleser]

25. They don't, they have issues because they don't like what the result is.

The polls are skewed if they don't show something good for Bernie.

We all remember unskewedpolls.com

[JI7]

37. they were upset Biden was added to polls because they claimed he took from sanders

but removing Biden just increased Clinton's lead .

i will probably even vote for sanders . but i will never get this denying reality . and getting upset because this was posted.

if people were supportive of socialists we would at least see more of them in office at lower levels and some more of them in congress .

but you don't even get most of the more liberal states electing many of them.

[NRaleighLiberal]

46. wrong. it's the exhausting Hillary Hysterical Hyperbole that is really tiring.

[stevenleser]

47. In other words, you don't like the result of the poll so you attack it and those that post it. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

50. 'socialist' isn't in a category with any of the other options

Gallup talks about candidates' 'education, age, religion, race and so on'. But the categories fit into religion, race/ethnicity, gender, and sexuality - religion, and things you're born with. 'Socialist' is a political ideology. It would be a more meaningful poll if things like 'capitalist' or 'tea party supporter' were in the options.

[stevenleser]

24. Yep, as I've said from the moment he declared, repugs would get 350-400 EVs

If Bernie is our nominee. Perhaps even more than 400.

Every state poll between Bernie and the GOP hopefuls shows Bernie losing all but deep blue states big and tied with them in deep blue states like California. And much of the GOP field has about the same level of name recognition as Bernie.

[Rex]

27. Yeah and it costs billions of dollars to keep it at the bottom.

Just like it costs billions of dollars to keep reminding people Republican Christians are under attack by Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny. Or to fund a presidental campaign.

Delusional lala land again, like some idiot in the Clown Car getting elected. Slim chance to none.

[Tarheel_Dem]

30. Sounds about right. But..but...once Bernie explains it to them....blah...blah...blah...

Fortunately, we'll never have to find out.

[PowerToThePeople]

31. Pretty sure fascist would poll lower.

[HooptieWagon]

32. Ooooohhh, that one has to smart.

[TM99]

33. Well it is a good thing, a Socialist isn't running.

I mean there is an Independent who is in the Democratic primary election. He identifies as a Democratic Socialist which is NOT a socialist. But no Socialists that I can think of off hand.

[misterhighwasted]

34. Big K & R for your bright light of truth.

^H^R^C

[LAGC]

36. Well, on the plus side, atheists are sure gaining.

Wasn't too long ago only 40% would consider voting for one.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

43. How about senators who trade American blood for political gain? n/t

n/t

[corkhead]

49. Funny, I saw "least appalling" when I read your op title

Your poll shows how stupid the American public that is willing to participate in a poll is. So what.

[99Forever]

51. Funny.

Last edited Tue Jun 23, 2015, 07:37 AM - Edit history (1)

I don't see a listing for neoliberals, DINOs, or Third Wayers on that "poll."

And how about Oligarchs, Plutocrats, and Shills for the MIC?

Corporatists? Shills for the Bankster$$$?

[merrily]

52. I wonder who commissioned that poll.

[cantbeserious]

53. Ever More Misdirection

eom

[deutsey]

54. Small wonder

With the history of repression (sometimes quite violent) of socialism (and the Left in general) in this country going back to the Palmer raids, red scares, McCarthyism, COINTELPRO, etc., and with the constant drumbeat of propaganda that has demonized and marginalized socialism for over a century, such results are no surprise.

Most people in America have no clue what Democratic Socialism is and how many of them have benefited from its principles (or how they had benefited from them until Reagan et al., began to roll back such gains).

[Vinca]

56. I bet the same people who think socialism is evil love what it actually is.

Half the country doesn't know who the Vice President is . . . how do you expect them to understand socialism?

[Romulox]

59. Hillary's supporters wouldn't be slinging mud everywhere if they were confident. nt

[whatthehey]

62. Of course , likely a huge majority of that 50%

would never vote for a Democrat either, and if asked would wonder why the questioner had repeated an inquiry about "those damn pinko-commie anti-American traitorous liberal scum".