Clinton Voters Like Obama More Than Sanders Supporters Do

[Gothmog]

Nate Silver's site has some good polling on this important difference between Sanders and Clinton supporter. I admit that I think that President Obama has been an outstanding POTUS and that is one reason why I am supporting Hillary Clinton http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/voters-who-like-obama-like-clinton/

The bottom half of the table shows attitudes that were measured in the wake of the 2012 election, between November 2012 and January 2013. We see, for instance, that Clinton and Sanders supporters differ little on questions about overall government spending or targeted assistance for African-Americans. Like the Iraq War, the Affordable Care Act may divide the candidates (paywalled), but it does not seem to split their supporters. Nor do immigration attitudes or measures of prejudice against blacks or Latinos.1

But notice the Obama feeling thermometer. Even back in the aftermath of Obama’s 2012 victory, those who would become Clinton supporters in 2016 rated Obama at 0.82 on the 0-1 scale, as opposed to just 0.72 for those who would become Sanders supporters. That difference remains sizable even when looking only at non-black respondents. In recent debates with Sanders, Clinton’s embrace of Obama has been striking. But more than a tactical play for black voters, that embrace may reflect deeper differences in the two candidates’ bases of support.

And it’s not just about Obama. As the table’s final line shows, Sanders voters were markedly more likely to agree that “at present, I feel very critical of our political system,” scoring 0.66 on a scale from 0 (“strongly disagree”) to 1 (“strongly agree”). Sanders backers are notably more disaffected, a fact which might explain their reluctance to back a longtime insider like Clinton.

It is always tempting to see the current campaign in light of past ones, especially when one of the same candidates is on the ballot. But the divisions between Clinton and Sanders are not simply a reflection of those between Clinton and Obama eight years ago, with Sanders stepping into the role of Obama. Voters’ orientation toward the political establishment — in this case, Clinton and Obama — is an issue that wasn’t present in 2008. And while Edwards has left the political stage, the appeal of his economic populism lives on.

Sanders supporters and Clinton supporters have very different viewpoints on President Obama.

[SunSeeker]

1. Yup. Pretty much works that way on DU as well. nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. Noticed that too

Some of the shrillest Obama critics on DU are avid Sanders supporters.

[Andy823]

13. Exactly

They hated Obama, they hated the Democratic party, they hated any politician that didn't meet their purity test, and they turned all that hate on to Hillary.

[sheshe2]

15. Yup

[yallerdawg]

2. Much of Sanders' campaign has been a three-for-one.

You get to bash all three of the most successful, prominent Democrats of the last 25 years.

Issue after issue - trade, campaign finance, guns, taxes, crime, Wall Street, healthcare, race relations - you name it, "Democrats" have failed!

Which is a constant reminder - DINO.

[salinsky]

3. History will look very kindly upon the Obama administration ...

... I don't think the Bernie supporters have the maturity to recognize the political headwinds Obama has faced for nearly eight years.

[NurseJackie]

4. Maturity.

Thank you.

[mcar]

7. Agree completely

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. ^^^ THIS ^^^

[BlueCaliDem]

24. I agree 110%.

The thing that really annoyed me about Sanders' complaints and then call to primary President Obama, is that he, as a Senator and ex-U.S. Rep, KNEW that Republicans had acted with unprecedented malice toward this president from the get-go. He was there. And that most of the issues he's now campaigning on that wasn't able to get done, is based on that unprecedented Republican obstructionism, but he's making it sound as if Democrats and President Obama is to blame, not Republicans.

That's why I can't support Bernie in the primaries.

[Her Sister]

5. After reading I got that Sanders and HRC groups are pretty similar

with similar values on most things but the main differences were:

HRC group is a lil more moderate and they like Obama more but both groups do like Obama.

Sander's supporters are stronger into LGBT rights and they are as a group more critical/negative towards government.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Yes, we see Obama's value.

[72DejaVu]

8. Guess what?

The feeling is mutual.

[Hekate]

10. Interesting; thanks

[Cha]

12. No Kidding! I've seen for 7 years what most of those sanders fans think of President Obama.

Mahalo Gothmog.

[sheshe2]

16. Me too.

I plead the fifth. Lol~

[Cha]

17. ..

Check your inbox, she!

[sheshe2]

18. ...

[Cha]

19. ...

heheheehehe

[otohara]

14. Angry Candidate Appeals

to angry electorate.

Isn't Sanders also a longtime insider?

[Cha]

20. Precisely, otohara.

[BlueCaliDem]

25. Exactl, otohara. I guess I'm not angry enough to

feel the Bern.

In fact, most Democrats polled aren't angry. They're actually content with the progress this president has made, despite unprecedented and coordinated Republican obstructionism.

[Cha]

21. KICK!

[Setsuna1972]

22. Bingo

Right on target, alotnof them express total disdain for President Obama

[BlueCaliDem]

23. No news to me. Having been on DU consistently for the past two years, it shows here, too.

The vast majority of current Bernie supporters have a history on DU of dissing President Obama, and nitpicking everything he's ever done - even the PPACA. Their posts give a strong impression of disliking him - for whatever reasons.

On the other hand, they're blind to the monumental mistakes Bernie has made that have had national implications.

So I agree with 538.

[UtahLib]

26. Seems some lead critically cynical, critical and unhappy lives.

[beachbum bob]

27. its a problem for sanders and his supporters for sure...

among the many problems with voters over 50, women voters, minority voters...and no the under 25 are going on spring break and he'll lose too, lol