A majority of “millennials reported a favorable opinion of Sen. Bernard Sanders in a recently-completed survey, with Mr. Sanders scoring significantly higher marks among younger voters than both Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Fifty-five percent of millennials — which Gallup defined as Americans between the ages of 20 and 36 — reported a favorable opinion of Mr. Sanders, according to polling results from the firm released this week.
Meanwhile, 38 percent reported a favorable opinion of Mrs. Clinton and 22 percent said they have a favorable opinion of Mr. Trump.
The polling provides some evidence to back up Mr. Sanders’ perceived appeal among younger Americans, which has been seen as one of the Vermont senator’s strengths during the Democratic presidential primary contest.
Mr. Sanders outpaced Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump across nearly all of the subgroups in the poll, including among men, women, whites, blacks and Hispanics, as well as across all education levels.
Mr. Trump did better than Mr. Sanders or Mrs. Clinton among Republicans and conservatives.
Among liberals in the age group, though, Mr. Sanders had a 78 percent favorable rating, compared to Mrs. Clinton’s 51 percent rating and Mr. Trump’s 9 percent rating.
Among conservatives, Mr. Trump had a 36 percent favorable rating, compared to Mr. Sanders’ 29 percent and Mrs. Clinton’s 26 percent.
Among moderates, Mr. Sanders had a 57 percent favorable rating, compared compared to 37 percent for Mrs. Clinton and 22 percent for Mr. Trump.
The results were compiled from April 1-30.
“Not only do millennials have favorable views of him personally, but there are also indications they are more likely than older generations to back his policies,” Gallup’s Jim Norman wrote of Mr. Sanders.
“Sanders is expected to lose his fight for the Democratic nomination, but he seems to be succeeding at building a foundation for his progressive movement among the voters who will have the greatest say about the nation’s direction in the long run,” Mr. Norman wrote.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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