Halperin ‘Not Surprised’ About Bernie Sanders Leading in New Hampshire

‘He is controlling his public image’

BRZEZINSKI: “Let’s get to politics, this is what you do. A new poll out of New Hampshire this morning shows Bernie Sanders leading Hillary Clinton for the first time. The Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald poll finds Clinton trailing 44 to 37. Is anyone surprised by this?”

HALPERIN (voice-over): “Nope.”

BRZEZINSKI: “Really? Vice President Joe Biden takes 9 percent, that was Halperin, of those likely to vote in the Democratic primary. Clinton and Sanders have similar favorability ratings except for the number of voters with very favorable impressions where Sanders has stronger support. Still, of these voters, 65 percent think Clinton will ultimately win the Democratic nomination. Only 11 percent think Sanders will. And on the front page of The Washington Post that puts Bernie Sanders' surge in perspective. He has the biggest crowds of the race and it's not even close. He has spoken to a combined 100,000 people in recent days. Let's put it more into perspective. There's a couple of different wild factors -- wild cards involved, including if Joe Biden decides to jump in Mark Halperin. But, what do you make of these numbers, are they anything worth talking about?”

HALPERIN: “No one is laying a glove on the guy within the context of media. In presidential politics, if you're controlling your public image you're doing well. He's controlling his public image. Almost every one of his appearances is big crowds and him delivering his message and no scandal, no controversy, no opposition research aimed against him. He's a perfect for the electorate in Iowa and more New Hampshire and she's still having problems.” 

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