CNN survey: Biden consolidates its favorite status with a post-announcement bump

A new CNN poll conducted by the SSRS after Biden's announcement on Thursday indicates that 39% of Democratic or Democratic-independent voters said it was their first choice for the nomination, compared with 28% who declared the same thing in March.

The increase in Biden's support strengthens its leadership status in a race that now has 20 Democratic candidates. Biden's first campaign message was centered on President Donald Trump, more directly than his Democratic counterparts – and the President noticed, spending time attacking Biden repeatedly on Twitter and Fox News in recent days. . Biden also highlighted his close personal ties with former President Barack Obama, publishing Tuesday a video of the campaign blending images of his vice presidency with Obama's statements at his Medal ceremony of freedom.

Biden's advance applies to almost all major demographic and political groups, although it is decreasing among some younger voters (31% Biden to 19% Sanders among those under 45), the Liberals (32% Biden to 19% Sanders) and Whites (29% Biden). 15% of Sanders among white voters).

Nevertheless, only about one-third of potential Democratic voters with a preference in the race (36%) say that they will definitely support the candidate they currently support, with 64% saying that they could still change their minds. # 39; s opinion. Those who say they are stuck are more likely to support Biden: 50% of this group supports him, 21% Sanders, 8% Warren.

When asked who in the field they would like to hear most about, other than the candidate they currently support, the names that come first are largely those at the top. of the track. But the order is mixed: Harris ranks first, mentioned by 23% of potential Democratic voters. Warren follows at 20%, Biden at 19%, Buttigieg at 17%, Senator Cory Booker and O & Rourke each land at 15% and 12% in the name of Sanders.

According to the poll, Biden remains very popular among potential Democratic voters, with 81% of them claiming to have a favorable opinion of the former vice president, exactly as in CNN's latest survey on its index. favorability in December.

With the exception of 7% of Democrats and independent voters with a democratic tendency, Biden knows Biden well enough to have an impression of him, but there is less certainty about the long record of the former Senator of Delaware. Only half (49%) of potential Democratic voters say they know at least enough about their senator duties, while half (51%) know very little about it. Even among its current supporters, 40% say they do not know anything about these positions. The youngest Democrats are particularly confused in their locker room, with 62% of those under 45 saying they do not know much or nothing about their record in the Senate.

In addition to the Biden hike, Buttigieg is the only other candidate to have made significant gains over a March CNN survey, gaining six points. Buttigieg's favorability rating among potential Democratic voters has also improved, from 11% at the end of January after the announcement of a presidential exploratory committee to 38% now that 39, he announced a campaign. 12% now have an unfavorable opinion.

Biden's entry into the race has allowed a group of 20 major advertised candidates, with at least three other current charge holders strongly considering a race. And the poll reveals that the potential Democratic electorate is generally satisfied with its choices.

In total, 80% say they are satisfied with the large number of candidates running for the Democratic nomination, 18% say they are dissatisfied. Women (85% satisfied) are more inclined to express their satisfaction with the field than men (74%) and Democrats who identify with themselves (84%) are a little more satisfied than independents who turn to the party (71%).

Asked to rate the importance of several contentious positions defined by at least some of the candidates for the Democratic nomination, potential voters are largely unified, considering that it is very important that the candidate nominated by the party supports aggressive action to slow down the effects of climate change. (82% "very important"); provide health insurance to all Americans through the government (75%); and take executive action if Congress fails to enact tougher gun laws (65%).

About half of the respondents consider that it is extremely important that the candidate support free public colleges (52%). And less than half of the potential Democratic voters consider that it is very important that the candidate supports the removal of Trump (43%), pays reparations to the descendants of enslaved persons (31%) or reinstates the right to vote. all criminals (28%).

Nearly half of potential Democratic voters say it is "extremely important" for a candidate to have a good chance of defeating Trump (46% said so) by deciding who to support. These considerations exceeded the considerations relating to the candidate's experience (31% said that it was extremely important that the candidate has the good experience to be president), his willingness to work with the Republicans to make to move things forward (26%), its ability to represent the future Democratic Party (22%), positions on problems (20% graded hierarchical positions, 20% consistency on issues) or ability to publicize the point of view of a stranger in Washington (14%).

The CNN survey was conducted by SSRS from April 25 to 28 in a random national sample of 1,007 adults reached on landlines or cell phones by an online interviewer. The results for the entire sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, for the subset of 411 Democrats and Independent Democrats who are registered to vote, it s' raises to 5.9 points.