The following is a summary of the latest YouGov/Economist Poll, conducted April 22-26, 2016. The YouGov/Economist Poll is released on a biweekly basis.
Preferred 2016 presidential nominee among likely Democratic primary voters:
- Hillary Clinton: 47% (-2 from April 8-11)
- Bernie Sanders: 43% (+1)
This is the smallest gap separating the two Democrats in YouGov/Economist polls so far this primary. It marks Clinton's smallest share of support to date, and Sanders's largest.
Preferred 2016 presidential nominee among likely Republican primary voters:
- Donald Trump: 49% (-4)
- Ted Cruz: 28% (+3)
- John Kasich: 19% (+1)
19% is the largest share of support John Kasich has mustered so far in YouGov's polling on the Republican primary.
Trial heats among registered voters:
- Hillary Clinton 43%-40% Donald Trump
- Hillary Clinton 45%-35% Ted Cruz
- Jon Kasich 41%-39% Hillary Clinton
(Among all adults...)
Approval of Obama as president:
- Approve: 47% (0)
- Disapprove: 47% (-4)
Approval of Congress:
- Approve: 12% (0)
- Disapprove: 58% (-3)
Direction of the country:
- Right direction: 27% (+1)
- Disapprove: 62% (0)
Other highlights:
Negativity in the primaries
- 65% of Democrats say the extended primary has been good for their party, only 37% of Republicans say the same for theirs
- By 38-26 Democratic primary voters say Hillary Clinton has run a more negative campaign than Bernie Sanders
- 60% of Sanders supporters say the Democratic Party is "corrupt", compared to 17% of Clinton supporters. 57% of ALL Republican primary voters say the same for the GOP.
- Only 22% of Americans think the current system of primaries and caucuses produces the best candidates for president
Socialism:
- Americans have more unfavorable than favorable opinions of socialism (30-46). It was similar (29-48) when YouGov last asked in January. 69% of Bernie Sanders supporters view socialism favorably.
- Among 18-29 year olds surveyed, 43% have a favorable opinion of socialism. It was also 43% in January and 36% in May 2015.
- What is socialism? Most Americans say free college tuition and free healthcare are examples of socialism, while interstate highways, the military, and tax credits for businesses are not. Americans are more divided over whether Medicare, public schools or Social Security exemplify socialism.
Black Lives Matter:
- Americans overall are split on the movement: 31% support it, 32% oppose it.
- 55% of African-Americans are supportive vs 26% of whites. 46% of 18-29 year olds support the movement vs 20% of 65+.
- In the Democratic primary race, BLM supporters are narrowly divided: 47% for Bernie Sanders, 43% for Hillary Clinton.
Merrick Garland:
- Americans support confirming Merrick Garland by 45% to 29%
For additional questions and detailed demographic breakdowns, see the full questionnaire here.
Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here.
