Bernie Sanders’ New Hampshire favorability is ‘almost unheard of’ in new poll
Exactly two months until the nation’s first primary, a new poll finds Bernie Sanders is leading with 50 percent of likely Democratic New Hampshire voters to 40 percent that support Hillary Clinton.
The CNN/WMUR poll released Wednesday shows Clinton picking up former Joe Biden supporters at a 2-1 margin since the last poll was taken. In September, Sanders led Clinton 46 percent to 30 percent in the poll, with 14 percent saying they would vote for Biden. Clinton’s numbers have since increased 10 percent, with Sanders picking up 4 percent.
Sanders had led in nearly every New Hampshire poll from the beginning August until the first Democratic debate in October. Since then, polling has shown a tight battle between the two leading Democratic candidates in the only early voting state where Clinton does not hold a significant lead.
Conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center from November 30 to December 7, Wednesday’s poll also found that Sanders remains very popular among Democratic voters in the Granite State.
Eighty-three percent of respondents said they had a favorable opinion of Vermont senator, compared to just 9 percent that had an unfavorable opinion. Clinton, meanwhile, was viewed 68 percent favorably to 24 percent unfavorably by likely Democratic primary voters.
Dr. Andrew Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center, told Boston.com that Sanders’ popularity is “almost unheard of’’ this far into the campaign.
“I have never seen favorabilities for any candidate this high at this point in the primary,’’ Smith said, noting that Sanders’ net favorability has only increased since he entered the race.
This is how New Hampshire voters responded when asked their opinion of Bernie Sanders.
Smith added that Clinton’s favorability numbers are very strong as well, especially compared to the 2016 Republican candidates, even if they don’t match her Democractic opponent.
Smith said that he had just finished teaching a class on the New Hampshire primary, which included three seasoned campaign journalists. He had asked them if they had ever seen anything like Sander’s lopsided favorability numbers this far into the campaign season. They hadn’t.
The poll Wednesday also found that independents, the largest voting bloc in New Hampshire, supported Sanders over Clinton 53 percent to 22 percent. Sanders also held double digit leads over Clinton both among voters who described themselves as liberal or conservative. Among self-described moderates, Clinton led 45 percent to 44 percent.
Sanders also led Clinton 51 percent to 35 percent among Boston Globe readers.
However, with still two months to go until voting begins, most voters are still undecided. Just 36 percent say they are “definitely decided’’ on who they will vote for, while 44 percent say they are still trying to decide.
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