The Democrats have 20 people that are running or likely to run for President in 2020, and it is the socialist who is making the most waves.
In the latest national Emerson poll that included 20 Democratic candidates for President, there is one person pulling away from the pack. Bernie Sanders, the 77-year-old socialist Senator from Vermont, is leading all other candidates by getting support from 29% of the likely voters.
Is Democratic Socialism is gaining ground in the 2020 election or is Bernie Sanders the most recognizable name on the list? Bernie’s been around for a long time… a very long time. He is well known and besides Joe Biden, has the most name recognition on the left.
Biden who was beating Sanders in the same poll in February, 27% to 17%, is now losing to the Vermont Senator, 29% to 24%. Part of the problem for Biden is the recent “hair-sniffing” reports that made women speak out against the former Vice President. Several women came out and said that he made them feel uncomfortable and now some voters are uncomfortable with Biden.
The former Vice President has not officially said he was running. If his numbers continue to drop and he doesn’t run, then Sanders could really pull away from the pack. The Emerson poll suggests that 31% of Biden’s supporters would go to Bernie Sanders.
Beyond Bernie and Biden, there is a new face that is rising quickly in the polls. Pete Buttigieg, the former Mayor of South Bend is starting to find some footing. Coming in with 9% support from likely voters, Mayor Pete outshined Beto O’Rourke, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and a slew of other candidates.
Mayor Pete had 0% support back in February in the same poll. In March he had 3%, and now approaching 10%. While candidates like Beto O’Rourke and Kamala Harris have seemed to stall with likely voters, Pete and Bernie are still on the rise.
Biden’s decision to run or not will dramatically affect the race, but as it stands right now, Bernie is clearly the front-runner and Mayor Pete is the one to watch.
First Democratic primary debate hits the stage in June!
