We have seen this time and again. The Democrat comes into the race with great numbers only to see them evaporate. The problem is the same thing, time and again. “Centerist” corporate Democrats can’t win against more ideological Republicans. Clinton’s crash against Sanders is simply the same phenomena, this time taking place during the Democratic primary. The Clinton Crash does not bode will for her in the general election. Take a look at these recent poll numbers.
Quinnipiac University. Feb. 2-4,
Margin of Error = 2.9%
Clinton: 46%
Trump: 41%
Clinton: 41%
Rubio: 48%
Clinton: 45%
Cruz: 45%
And on the other side:
Sanders: 49%
Trump: 39%
Sanders: 43%
Rubio: 43%
Sanders: 46%
Cruz: 42%
Clinton’s supporters, most notably Paul Krugman, counter with the claims that the polls don’t matter and that Bernie will get vaporized in the general. If the past couple of election cycles have taught us anything it’s that the polls, or at least a properly constructed average of the polls matter. The only one of the three leading Republican candidates that Clinton beats is the one openly favored by white nationalists! Even then Sanders has double the lead.
Hillary is getting vaporized and the Republicans aren’t even trying. The Sanders campaign has what? Given Clinton a pass on the e-mail issue and criticized her ties to Wall Street. The transcript thing looks like it was thought up by the press. This isn’t exactly the kind of bare knuckled response that Clinton is likely to get from the Republicans in the general.
On the other hand. Clinton has been engaged in one of the nastiest primary campaigns I’ve seen in a long time. She’s played both the race and gender cards to the hilt. Her campaign has been vitriolic and divisive — and ineffective.
Simply put: Sanders numbers show the kind of polling we should expect the nominee to have. If the Clinton campaign is already losing the general this badly before even securing the nomination, then we should nominate somebody else.