Hillary Clinton shouldn’t worry that a string of possible controversies will hamstring her in the Iowa presidential caucuses, but many Democrats fear the disputes could hamper her in the general election, a new Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics Iowa Poll suggests.
At least 70% of likely Democratic Iowa caucusgoers say they aren’t bothered by any one of three issues that Clinton opponents have pushed as controversies. The issues are her use of a private email server instead of a government account when she was secretary of state; her handling of the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and its aftermath; and foreign governments’ donations to the Clinton Foundation.
But 66% of the likely Democratic caucusgoers say they think at least one of the three issues could hurt Clinton in the general election if she becomes their nominee, the poll shows.
Clinton continues to hold a commanding Iowa lead among possible Democratic candidates for president, the poll shows. A whopping 57% of likely Democratic caucusgoers say she would be their first choice for president. That’s one point higher than Clinton scored in an Iowa Poll conducted in late January, which was more than two months before she formally launched her campaign.
Almost three in four (72%) say Clinton is their first or second choice.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has replaced fellow populist Elizabeth Warren, a senator from Massachusetts, as the leading contender to Clinton among Iowa Democrats, the poll finds. Sixteen percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers say Sanders would be their first choice for president. That’s up from 5% in the January poll.
Click here to continue reading…
SOURCE: Tony Leys
The Des Moines Register
BCNN1 WP 