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CBS NEWS POLL For release: Sunday October 11, 2015 10:30 am EDT The Race for the 2016 Democratic Nomination: Clinton Maintains Her Lead

October 4-8, 2015

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 Hillary Clinton continues to lead in the race for the Democratic nomination, followed by Bernie Sa

nders. If Joe Biden does not enter the race, Clinton’s lead over Sanders grows.

 

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 While Democratic primary voters see Clinton as the most electable and a strong and experienced leader, Biden is most widely viewed as honest and trustworthy. More see Clinton than Biden or Sanders as able to manage the economy and an international crisis.

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 But among the broader electorate, Clinton is viewed more negatively, and 61% of voters say she is not honest (similar percentages of voters overall say the same about Donald Trump).

The Democratic Race

Just days before the first Democratic candidate debate, Hillary Clinton is ahead of Bernie Sanders by 19 points in the Democratic race for the nomination nationally. Her lead is similar to last month, but has narrowed since August. Potential candidate Vice President Joe Biden comes in third, while the other candidates trail far behind.

2016 Democratic Nomination for President

(among Democratic primary voters) Now 9/2015 8/2015 Hillary Clinton 46% 47% 58% Bernie Sanders 27 27 17 Joe Biden 16 15 11 Jim Webb 2 1 2 Lincoln Chafee * 1 1 Martin O'Malley * * 1 Lawrence Lessig * n/a n/a

Don’t know

 5 7 7

(*) % is less than 0.5

If Biden decides not to enter the race

, Clinton’s lead over Sanders widens.

 

2016 Democratic Nomination for President

(among Democratic primary voters) With Biden Without Biden Hillary Clinton 46% 56% Bernie Sanders 27 32 Joe Biden 16 n/a Jim Webb 2 2 Lincoln Chafee * 1 Martin O'Malley * 1 Lawrence Lessig * *

Don’t know

 5 4

(*) % is less than 0.5

 

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Clinton is still viewed as the candidate with the best chance of winning a general election. Nearly six in 10 Democratic primary voters see her as the most electable, far ahead of the other candidates in the field.

Best Chance of Winning in November 2016

(among Democratic primary voters) Now 9/2015 8/2015 Hillary Clinton 59% 55% 78% Joe Biden 18 21 11 Bernie Sanders 15 10 5 Jim Webb 1 2 1 Lincoln Chafee * 1 - Martin O'Malley * * * Lawrence Lessig - n/a n/a

Don’t know

 5 7 4

(*) % is less than 0.5

Clinton gets s

trong support from women and older voters. Clinton’s lead is narrower with men

, and she and Sanders run about even among Democratic primary voters under age 50.

2016 Democratic Nomination for President

(among Democratic primary voters) Clinton Sanders Biden Men 39% 30 19 Women 51% 24 13 18-49 41% 39 14 50+ 48% 18 17

(Table has been truncated. Not all candidates listed.)

Just under half of Democratic primary voters nationwide say they would enthusiastically support Clinton if she

became the party’s nominee.

27% would support her with some reservations and another 11% would only back her because she is the nominee. 14% would not support her in a general election. Democratic voters currently backing Clinton are especially likely to be enthusiastic about her. Those not supporting Clinton are less fervent

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 only about a quarter would enthusiastically

support her if she became the party’s nominee.

 

If Clinton Becomes the Democratic Nominee, You Would…

 

(among Democratic primary voters) Total Clinton supporters Support other candidate Enthusiastically support her 47% 76% 22% Support with reservations 27 16 38

Only because she’s party’s nominee

 11 4 17 Not support 14 2 23

 

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Views of the Democratic Candidates

Clinton, Sanders and Biden are viewed more positively than negatively among Democratic primary voters. While fewer see Sanders favorably, over a third has yet to form an opinion of him.

Views of Democratic Candidates

(Among Democratic primary voters) Clinton Sanders Biden Favorable 69% 50% 71% Not favorable 19 13 9

Undecided/haven’t heard enough

 12 37 21  Among voters nationwide, opinions of Biden and Sanders are divided, but more than four in 10 voters are undecided about Sanders

or don’

t know enough to have an opinion of him.

 Views of Democratic Candidates

(among registered voters) Clinton Sanders Biden Favorable 33% 26% 38% Not favorable 53 28 36

Undecided/haven’t heard enough

 14 44 25 But among that broader electorate of voters, 53% have an unfavorable opinion of Clinton, an increase from August and the highest since the CBS News Poll began asking about her in 1992.

Views of Hillary Clinton

(among registered voters) Now 8/2015 10/2007 Favorable 33% 41% 43% Not favorable 53 47 41

Undecided/haven’t heard

14 11 16

Democrats: The Candidates on the Issues

On handling of two key issues -- the economy and an international crisis -- more Democratic primary voters say they are very confident in

Clinton’s abilities

 than in her nearest competitors

’

. 47% are very confident in Biden to handle an international crisis, while Sanders lags on this issue. Still, majorities of Democratic voters are at least somewhat confident in both Sanders and Biden. Clinton, Sanders, and Biden get similar marks from Democratic voters on the issue of regulating banks and financial institutions.