A huge lead among women propels former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to a 59 – 33 percent lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont among Florida likely Democratic primary voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
(Quinnipiac) – A huge lead among women propels former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to a 59 – 33 percent lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont among Florida likely Democratic primary voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Women back Clinton 69 – 24 percent, while men go 47 percent for Sanders and 43 percent for Clinton, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.
Likely Democratic primary voters 18 to 44 years old back Sanders 51 – 39 percent, while voters 45 to 64 years old back Clinton 64 – 28 percent and voters over 65 years old back her 73 – 21 percent.
Clinton leads among voters who describe themselves as “very liberal,” “somewhat liberal” or “moderate to conservative.”
Eight percent of Florida likely Democratic primary voters are undecided and 17 percent of those who name a candidate say they might change their mind before the March 15 primary.
Looking at the qualities they want in a presidential nominee, 25 percent of Florida Democrats most want someone who cares about their needs and problems, while 20 percent most want someone who is honest and trustworthy and 16 percent most want someone with the right experience. Another 15 percent most want someone who shares their values.
Peter A. Brown
“This has been a turbulent political year, but the Florida Democratic primary looks like a blow-out. With her 26-point lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders, Secretary Hillary Clinton would have to undergo a political meltdown of historic proportions to lose this contest,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“Yes, Sen. Sanders has made up ground in earlier contests, but they were smaller states,” Brown added. “Florida is the third most populous state. The type of grass roots organizing that stood Sanders in good stead in Iowa and New Hampshire just isn’t doable in mega-state Florida where TV commercials are the coin of the realm.
“There is other good news for Secretary Clinton other than the horserace numbers in this poll. After seeing Sanders cut into her traditional big margin among female voters in earlier contests, the sisterhood seems strongly in her corner. She defeats Sanders almost 3-1 among women likely Florida Democratic primary voters.”
Among likely Democratic primary voters who most want a candidate who cares about their needs and problems, Sanders gets 48 percent to Clinton’s 42 percent. He leads 49 – 37 percent among voters who most want a candidate who is honest and trustworthy.
Clinton leads 87 – 9 among Democrats who most want a candidate with the right experience and 53 – 44 percent among voters who most want someone who shares their values.
The economy and jobs is the most important issue in deciding who to support, 36 percent of Democrats say, followed by 16 percent who cite health care.
Among likely Democratic primary voters who see the economy and jobs as the most important issue, Clinton gets 48 percent to 42 percent for Sanders. Clinton leads 59 – 30 percent among those who see health care as the most important issue.
From February 21 – 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 476 Florida likely Democratic primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.
