Poll: Support for Hillary Clinton drops among California Democrats

CALIFORNIA Democrats are losing faith in Hillary Clinton.

According to a new Field Poll, the former first lady and secretary of state’s support has dramatically plummeted in the Golden State. Clinton has dropped 19 points since May, and 26 points since February, reported the San Jose Mercury News. In contrast, Clinton’s closest rival Bernie Sanders has surged in support, the poll found.

“I think it primarily has to do with the fact that over the past few months almost all the news voters have heard about Hillary Clinton has been about this email scandal, and not her policy positions,” said Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo. “The campaign is pretty much in a defensive mode and that’s never a good thing.”

California Dems also think it would be a “good thing” for Vice President Joe Biden to enter next year’s presidential race, looking for something to get excited about.

“Certainly we’ve been hearing a lot from the Republican side, they’ve been having spirited debates,” DiCamillo added. “Maybe Democrats would like to see a little more attention paid to their side, and if Biden got in, that would add a little more balance and drama to the campaign.”

63 percent of likely voters said it would be a good thing if Biden, a strongly Catholic Democrat, runs for president. In contrast, only 15 percent said they would actually back him if he does.

“What that says to me is that Democratic voters really would like the opportunity to see their candidate against any and all comers, and Biden would certainly be welcomed into the race,” he said. “That might turn more attention to the Democratic primary.”

According to Reuters, an earlier Field Poll conducted in May found that 66 percent of likely primary voters supported Clinton as first lady during the administration of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and later a US senator from New York.

With four months to go before the first Iowa caucuses, and eight months before California voters decide on candidates, “it’s way too early to say what will happen,” DiCamillo said. “Especially given the upcoming Democratic debates, early primary results in other states, and whatever conclusion a federal investigation reaches on whether Clinton’s email practices jeopardized classified information.”

With the email server controversy and ongoing questions about the Benghazi attack, DiCamillo noted, “If [Hillary] can effectively get people talking more about her issues than her emails, she has plenty of time to bounce back and widen her lead again.”

Only 47 percent of likely voters in next June’s Democratic primary now support Clinton. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders’ support has grown from 9 percent in May to 35 percent currently. The self-described “socialist” and Vermont senator has his strongest support in the actively liberal Bay Area, at 38 percent (to Clinton’s 45 percent).

California is almost certain to be carried by a Democrat in November, the Mercury News reported.

However, the Field Poll survey of 391 Democratic likely voters (from Sept. 17 to Oct. 4, with a five-percentage-point margin of error) seems to reflect the party’s inconsistency as candidates prepare for the first of six televised debates, hosted by CNN next Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Las Vegas.

Beyond the Golden State, Sanders has closed the gap so that Clinton now leads by only 16 percentage points, according to an average of recent national polls compiled by Real Clear Politics. In Iowa, she leads Sanders by six points. In New Hampshire, Sanders leads Clinton by 11 points.

Despite wavering from some supporters, California remains a rich source of campaign cash for Clinton — she was in the Bay Area just last week to raise money in Saratoga, Belvedere, Orinda and San Francisco.

Clinton is still the most likely to win California’s primary and the nomination,” said Jack Citrin, director of UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies. “If only because she stands a better chance against any Republican nominee. It’s improbable to me that someone with Bernie Sanders’ background would be nominated, especially once people start thinking about what’s likely to happen in the general election.”

“She communicates well with other countries…it isn’t just us, it’s the world, and we have to remember that,” Laurie Koester, 64, told the Field Poll. She also likes Clinton’s environmental views and how she handled Republican attacks on her trustworthiness, “with grace and aplomb.”

Yet on Biden’s experience, Koester said: “[Biden] can enrich the race’s dialogue. He can kind of show her the ropes.”

Overall, the Field Poll of California Democratic likely voters found:

– 47 percent support Hillary Clinton (down 19 points from May) while 35 percent support Bernie Sanders (up 26 points from May).

– Clinton’s support is weakest (45 percent) and Sanders’ support is strongest (38 percent) in the Bay Area.

– Clinton is doing much better (52 percent) than Sanders (22 percent) among Latino voters.

– 63 percent believe it would be a good thing for Vice President Joe Biden to enter the race, but only 15 percent said they would vote for him if he does.

– Fewer voters say they’d be enthusiastic about having Clinton as the party’s nominee: 37 percent now, compared to 46 percent in May. Another 42 percent say they would be satisfied if Clinton wins the nomination, while 26 percent would be dissatisfied.