Excitement is rising as the latest ratings shows Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton neck-to-neck with 47 percent vs. 49 percent in California. It’s merely a two-point lead for Clinton ahead of the state’s June 7 primary, and the small lead may have great implications.
A Sanders victory in California would justify his place in the race heading into July’s Democratic convention.
And Sanders is actually ahead by one point, 48 percent to 47 percent, among a wider electorate of all potential Democratic voters in California.
He has especially strong leads among first-time participants (72 percent v.s 28 percent), independents (68 percent v.s 26 percent), and voters under 45 (66 percent v.s 30 percent).
Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, said:
“Sanders inspires younger or first-time voters, and Clinton relies upon those who are older or have participated in the past.”
However, a Sanders victory in California wouldn’t affect the overall delegate math too much in the Democratic race. Clinton has a substantial lead over Sanders with 270 pledged delegates and 770 overall delegates.
Additionally, if Sanders doesn’t win in California, his chances to stay in the race don’t look good at all. But addressed the stakes of winning during a “Meet the Press” event last Sunday, saying,
“Obviously, if we don’t do well in California, it will make our path much, much harder. No question about it.”
Sanders was confident in his speech in Palo Alto yesterday, and told his cheering supporters that Hillary and Bill Clinton are racing to California because they realize his campaign is not quite over.
He also said chances were good to come out of the convention with a democratic nomination. More importantly,
“If we come out with a nomination, Donald Trump is toast.”
Featured image is by Phil Roeder, available under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.
