Clinton Takes 32-Point Lead Over Sanders Into Tuesday Night’s Democratic Debate

Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 01:47 pm

A Morning Consult Poll released on October 13th ahead of the first Democratic primary debate, shows Hillary Clinton with a commanding lead over her nearest rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. The national poll found that 54 percent of Democratic voters support Clinton, with 22 percent backing Sanders. Clinton’s 32-point lead represents an 11 percentage point jump from the 21-point lead she held in the previous poll released on October 6th.

If Joe Biden is included in the race, a possibility that grows less likely by the day, Clinton’s lead shrinks slightly to 47 to 20 over Sanders, with Biden polling just behind Sanders at 17 percent. No other Democratic presidential candidate registers a significant level of support.

The Republican debacle over trying to find a new Speaker of the House to replace John Boehner has taken press coverage away from the phony Clinton e-mail scandal. Consequently, it appears as though Clinton has taken the respite from negative press coverage to shore up her support and maintain her position atop the Democratic field.

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While Sanders leads in New Hampshire, and has made significant inroads in Iowa, he still lags well behind Hillary Clinton in the national polls. He also trails by large margins in South Carolina and Nevada, the first two states that will vote after Iowa and New Hampshire have weighed in.

A strong debate performance by Hillary Clinton on Tuesday night could go a long way towards solidifying her status as the undisputed Democratic front-runner. However, if she falters or if Bernie Sanders has a strong night, the race could tighten again, and open the door for Sanders to carve into Clinton’s lead.

For the other candidates on the stage — Jim Webb, Martin O’Malley, and Lincoln Chafee — Tuesday could either give them an opportunity to become relevant, or give them a chance to drift away, if they deliver flat performances that match their flat-lining poll numbers.

Hillary Clinton is in a strong position in the Democratic race, carrying a 32-point lead into Tuesday night’s debate in Las Vegas. If she can master the stage on Tuesday night, she has an opportunity to build upon that lead, and potentially put the Democratic race out of reach, provided she can maintain her momentum into 2016.

Keith Brekhus

Keith Brekhus is a progressive American who currently resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He is co-host for the Liberal Fix radio show. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Missouri. In 2002, he ran for Congress as a Green Party candidate in the state of Missouri. In 2014, he worked as a field organizer for Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick’s successful re-election bid in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. He can be followed on Twitter @keithbrekhus or on Facebook.