Here’s Why Clinton’s Lead over Sanders Is Shrinking

[Marty McGraw]

The latest Des Moines Register/Bloomberg survey of the Democratic presidential terrain in Iowa contains some bad news for former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton -- and some really bad news.

The bad news is that her once commanding lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Hawkeye State has shriveled, from seven percentage points last month to just two points now –which is less than the highly-regarded survey’s 4 point margin of error. Clinton leads Sanders heading into the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, 42 percent to 40 percent, with former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley bringing up the rear with 4 percent.

Related: Sanders' Surge Threatens a Replay of 2008 for Clinton

The really bad news is that Clinton’s decline in a state she lost to Barack Obama in 2008 has less to do with Sanders surging than many early Clinton supporters having second thoughts about whether to stand by her or shift allegiance to Sanders, the self-styled democratic socialist who has captivated liberal audiences with his relentless attacks on Wall Street and the “billionaire class.”

https://beta.finance.yahoo.com/news/why-clinton-lead-over-sanders-203900726.html

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. Wow! They actually called him a "Democratic Socialist" instead of just a "Socialist" - props to the

Des Moines Register!

Bernie has more support out here than they realize. It's a movement that cannot be stopped.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[guillaumeb]

2. What I am seeing in the polls is essentially a tie.

At this point I believe that the voters still favor HRC. The essential thing is for voters to understand how important every election is, and to actually come out and vote.

[snoringvoter]

4. Voters see Bernie now, they like what they hear from him, and finally dump Clinton for Bernie

at the caucuses.

[guillaumeb]

5. Media coverage, and the Internet, are helping.

Could it be 2008 again?

[Marty McGraw]

7. But for an

established name and presence that HRC has, the recent Trend has got to be a painful one to bear witness to. That Trend says it all.

[guillaumeb]

12. Well..with an established name, and presence, comes history. And positions.

Both have history, and positions. Now it is up to the electorate to decide who best speaks for the people.

[rhett o rick]

3. The reason IMO that Sanders numbers are increasing is that more and more

people that otherwise have been disenfranchised by the Big Money politics that H. Clinton is famous for, are beginning to realize that there is a real chance for change from the corruption currently strangling our democracy.

[Marty McGraw]

13. and hopefully

a start and means toward weeding out all of the money induced corruption that have poisoned this once great institution. All we're left with is hope now and this choice for the people is a true champion for that cause.

Let's hope this is as affective as I am hoping for the down ticket votes as well. I have full faith in the kind of appointments Bernie and his cabinet would choose to fill all those appointed rolls.

[99th_Monkey]

20. Yes that sound you hear, is WHAT YOU SAID^ .. sinking in, day-by-day, to voters' minds. nt

[Faux pas]

6. Kickin'

[Marty McGraw]

8. Thank You

I'm new with article hunting beyond the cherished DU borders. DU has spoiled me this way with all their wonderful posters here being so on the ball - Leaves one for not. (needing)

[libdem4life]

23. I just recently realized that is what I do, too. I appreciate all the junk they have to wade

through to come up with the topics that appear here. I just got tired of it.

[bvar22]

9. If O'Malley faces reality,

..and endorses Sanders.....

[Marty McGraw]

10. would definitely

smile in the face of his character and would truly benefit a long game. Really ashamed at how some of our one time esteemed representative folk raced in hap-haphazardly to endorse the anointed one w/o thinking of the future weigh down of how the public in general will view them down the road.

[Z_California]

11. The way the caucuses work

I think a majority of O'Malley supporters will caucus for Bernie. In order to win a delegate, a candidate must have at least 15% support in any given caucus. If your candidate has less than 15% you can choose to go home/not support anyone, or you can caucus for another candidate. I have to believe most O'Malley supporters are looking for an HRC alternative.

But I could be wrong.

[Aerows]

26. No Z, I think you are on the right track

If O'Malley supporters wanted to support Clinton, they wouldn't be looking at someone like O'Malley - he's got a different philosophy than Clinton, and there is much to be admired about him. It's the same things Sanders supporters admire about Bernie.

As you say, we could both be wrong, but I'd wager money on the fact that O'Malley supporters will go all in with Sanders before they will Clinton. Clinton burned a hell of a lot of bridges in 2008, and unfortunately for Hillary, informed voters looking at candidates based upon their merits are going to remember those things. Those are also the sort of voters that favor O'Malley.

[WillyT]

14. K & R !!!

[Duval]

15. Kicked and recommended.

[highprincipleswork]

16. Vote for that which you feel is good. Vote for it, work for it, fight for it!!!!!

[TIME TO PANIC]

17. K & R !

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. "Clinton supporters having second thoughts,...stand by her or shift allegiance to Sanders"

[center][font color=red size=12 face=impact]TRAITORS!!!![/font][/center]

[99th_Monkey]

19. K&R - Sounds about right. but wait, there's even worse news for Hillary ...

Hillary at 42% is if the caucuses were held today, which is also good news for
Bernie since he's the one who's trending, with no end in sight.

[Uncle Joe]

21. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Marty McGraw.

[Marty McGraw]

24. Was happy to come across it.

Thank you for sharing the read with me.

[Warren DeMontague]

22. because she doesn't have anything to run on besides being Hillary Clinton?

[Marty McGraw]

25. Would be smart

if/when after losing the first 2 or 3 states she would back out and save some pocket change this time around.

Then again, I would take bets that she has heavy investments made with most of the large media corps. Nice friendly closed loop them folk are. Where else does all that friendly donation money wind up at.

[Renew Deal]

27. I agree

There is no message. Sanders and Trump are the only candidates with a real message. This doesn't mean there aren't reasons to vote for her. Just that she doesn't have a message.