WaPo: Hillary Clinton’s support among blacks plunges in a new poll

[portlander23]

WaPo: Hillary Clinton’s support among blacks plunges in a new poll

Over the course of the still-awfully young Democratic primary season, one demographic split has been repeated over and over again: Non-whites have consistently been more supportive of Hillary Clinton than whites.

That's one reason that Bernie Sanders's strength in Iowa and New Hampshire isn't as worrisome as it might otherwise be for Clinton backers; in states with less-heavily white populations -- a.k.a. most of the rest of the country -- Clinton should conceivably do better.

A new poll from Suffolk University and USA Today, though, suggests a big shift among African Americans that could undermine that confidence. We have to note up front that this is one poll, with large margins of error on black responses. That said, the shift is surprising.

Since the last Suffolk poll in July, the overall race has tightened. Clinton still leads, but by less than she used to. Now notice how big the drop among black Democrats is on the chart below.

Since the last Suffolk poll in July, the overall race has tightened. Clinton still leads, but by less than she used to. Now notice how big the drop among black Democrats is on the chart below.




Part of the shift in support for Clinton might be due to the decline in her net favorability among blacks. Opinions of Clinton have dropped among all Democrats as we've seen before. Among blacks, the decline has been greater -- and the increase in favorable views of Sanders has been stark.




It's also important to note that this new poll doesn't show much change in support for the top three Democrats over other recent polls. Clinton's been at or a bit above 40 percent for a while, while Sanders has been in the mid-20s.

[KeepItReal]

1. How is a poll useful that includes a person that is not a declared candidate?

If Biden wasn't there, how much of a drop (if any) would we see in Sen. Clinton's support?

[roguevalley]

8. perhaps its because it shows once again that significant numbers would vote for someone

not even on the ticket as opposed to the one declared winner already? That and the media is idiotic.

[AtomicKitten]

2. What goes around comes around ...

[hootinholler]

5. Kick for later. n/t

[Qutzupalotl]

6. So Clinton has a problem with POC?

I don't actually believe that, I just think that they gravitated toward Clinton initially due to name recognition. They're just learning more about Bernie now, and liking him.

[Capn Sunshine]

7. Remember Bernie was starting from nothing

so any advance at all is going to be reflected as a steep curve.
This is good news however for the Sanders Campaign. They need to get out more in the contest states, and it looks like they are starting to make inroads. This is exactly what they need to be doing.