Majority of Democrats emphasize electability in 2020 candidate: poll

A majority of voters who identify as Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they would want the party’s nominee to be someone who has the best chance of defeating President Trump rather than one who most closely aligns with them on the issues, a new poll has found. 

The Gallup survey released Tuesday found that 60 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners said they would prefer a candidate who has the best chance of beating Trump compared to 38 percent who said they would prefer a candidate who agrees with them on most issues they care about.  

{mosads}The survey also found that out of a series of top contenders, former Vice President Joe Biden was perceived as having the best chance to beat the president. 

A total of 51 percent said Biden has the best chance to beat Trump, while 16 percent said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has the best chance to beat him. Fifteen percent said the same of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and just 3 percent said the same of South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) 

The poll also found that half of Democrats and leaners prefer a moderate nominee, while 33 percent prefer a liberal one and 17 percent want a conservative nominee. 

Researchers surveyed 437 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents from Nov. 1-11. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.