Iowa Pollster Ann Selzer: Clinton ‘Has Lost 1/3 of Her Support Since June’
DICKERSON: “We turn now to politics and the new Bloomberg/Des Moines Register Iowa poll. We're joined by Selzer & Company president Ann Selzer, who conducted that poll. Welcome, Ann.
SELZER: “Good morning.”
DICKERSON: “Last night, when the poll numbers came out, political junkies were staring into their devices. The first thing they were looking at was on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is at 37. Bernie Sanders is at 30, and Joe Biden is at 14. What did you see in those numbers?”
SELZER: “Well, I think the first thing that jumps right off the page is, this is the first time in Iowa that we have seen Hillary Clinton below 50 percent. And she's not just a little below 50 percent. She's lost a third of her support since June.”
DICKERSON: “And is that a move away from Hillary Clinton or a move to Bernie Sanders? What's happening to her support?”
SELZER: “Well, her support is going a little bit into the not- sure category, of people sort of being -- waiting there. But the Bernie Sanders vote is certainly getting stronger. And I think important to point out it isn't just that there's an anti- Clinton sentiment. It isn't that. So, that is perhaps the good news for former Secretary of State Clinton. But it is, when we ask Bernie Sanders supporters, is this because you align with Bernie Sanders, the person and his views, 96 percent say yes. Overwhelmingly, that's what they're up to. And Clinton's favorabilities are very strong. So, she's in sort of a place of discomfort, where her first choice, horse race, not so good.”
DICKERSON: “Yes. So, Sanders' voters are feeling the Bern. Who are they? Are they -- who is turning out for Bernie Sanders?”
SELZER: “And this, I think, also is fascinating, is that you look into the internals, as we call them. Who is it that he is strong with? He is losing by seven points. He leads by eight points with people who say this would be the first time they participated in the caucus. He leads by over 20 points with people who say they consider themselves independents and people who are under age 45. Now, that is the Obama coalition. Those are the groups he put together that surprised Hillary Clinton in 2008.”
DICKERSON: “It's so funny too, because Bernie Sanders is older. He's not the kind of fresh, new millennial character that Senator Obama was. What about Joe Biden? Any news for him here in this poll?”
SELZER: “Well, I think he gets 14 percent, which is better than he's ever done running for president in Iowa before. So, I think that is probably the good news. He draws about evenly from people who would be Clinton and would be Sanders supporters. So, it's not clear that -- how that exactly would play out. His favorables are very good. So, there's an opportunity here. We also asked Clinton supporters if they would be comfortable with the field. And we clarified that that would be a field without Joe Biden, if for some robe she had to drop out. And 51 percent say, in fact, they would like someone else in that mix.”
