Poll: More Dems, independents prize electability over ideology

More Democrats and independents in a new survey say they prize a presidential candidate’s ability to defeat President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE than whether a candidate aligns with their priorities.

About 48 percent of Democrats and independent voters in a USA Today-Suffolk University poll released Friday said they want to nominate a candidate “who can win, even if different from my priorities.”

That compares to roughly 38 percent of Democrats and independents in the poll who said they want a candidate “in line with my priorities even if it is harder to win.” Another 13 percent said they were undecided.

The poll comes as the Democratic presidential primary field continues to grow, with some candidates working to shore up support among the party’s progressive flank and others pushing to appeal to disaffected and more moderate voters.

The primary race has broadly split into two lanes, with high-profile candidates like Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.), Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (D-Calif.), Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) and Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J.) running unapologetically progressive campaigns while other candidates like Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.) and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) have expressed skepticism about certain progressive priorities such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.

“We’d much rather have anybody than Trump,” one survey respondent, Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick, 66, told USA Today. She added she believes the country needs a leader “who will right the ship, because I think we have been in very choppy, choppy waters with a very bad captain for the last few years now.”

The new poll suggests that voters may have a breaking point for how far left a candidate can go. About 67 percent of all respondents would disapprove of a contender who thinks the U.S. should be more socialist, while only 22 percent would support such a candidate. Another 11 percent are undecided on the matter.

While Trump has historically low approval ratings, the poll found that he would edge out an unnamed Democratic opponent, 39 to 36 percent, with 11 percent opting for a third-party candidate and 14 percent saying they’re undecided.

The USA Today-Suffolk University poll of 1,000 registered voters — including 367 Democrats, 340 Republicans and 233 independents — was conducted March 13-17 and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

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