Sanders advantage in Iowa? 43% of likely voters identify as Socialist

[Godhumor]

I somehow missed this when the Selzer Poll for Iowa first came out:

A little-noticed data point in the new Selzer & Co. Iowa poll, in fact, shows that 43 percent of likely voters in the Feb. 1 caucuses say they would use the word "socialist" to describe themselves.

And to be very clear, this question was not whether they would vote for a socialist or sympathize with socialism; it's whether they consider themselves socialist.

The 43 percent of likely Iowa Democratic caucus-goers who self-identify as socialist is actually more than the number who identify themselves as capitalist — 38 percent.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/17/this-number-proves-bernie-sanders-can-win-iowa/

[Recursion]

1. Good catch, thanks

That's a very very interesting piece of data

[litlbilly]

2. Straight from the GOP playbook.

[Godhumor]

6. ? Selzer asked which words likely voters would use to describe themselves

Iowa is an activist state; it doesn't surprise me that socialist or feminist were two highly thought of choices.

[vaberella]

9. I think he has more on his side. 44- Anti-WallStreet & 53- Political Correct, 59 - Feminist

I'd say Bernie could have on average 50% of the vote by these numbers.

What the hell is a "True Believer"?

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Did I miss something? Aren't the majority of Iowans "Old White Racists"? Isn't that what I read...

when polls started showing growing support in Iowa for Bernie Sanders?

[karynnj]

4. going too far to say they identify as socialist

They were asked capitalism or socialism as two stated alternatives. Still interesting as it shows capitalism is now seen as negative mire than socialism.

[Godhumor]

5. Actually they were asked to choose all words/phases that they self identified with

The list, with percentage breakdown, is:



Socialist and anti-Wall Street pretty much mirror each other.

[karynnj]

7. Thanks that is fascinating

[Godhumor]

8. I agree. Iowa is a lot more complicated than many people believe

I think it is safe to say.

[JudyM]

10. 59% feminist?! That's surprising. And great. Nt