As the field winnows to just Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on the ballot for the Democratic primary in New Hampshire next week, ideological and issue differences should be even more pronounced than they were in Iowa on Monday. New Hampshire’s open primary will also engage more independent voters.
Solid majorities of married women, moderates and Democrats 65 years of age supported Clinton in Iowa, while Sanders drew support from Democrats between the ages of 17 and 44, first-time caucus-goers and those who say their political philosophy is very liberal.
Clinton dominated Sanders in Iowa among Democrats who value experience (88 percent vs 9 percent for Sanders) and electability in November (77 percent vs 17 percent for Sanders).
But Clinton suffered significantly among Democrats who placed the most value on a candidate who is honest and trustworthy, getting only 10 percent to Sanders’ 83 percent among these voters. Sanders also trounced Clinton—74 percent to 22 percent—among voters who want a candidate “who cares for people like me.”
Sanders supporters also included 76 percent who want the next president to advance policies that are more liberal than President Obama’s. He was also the choice of Democrats who think income inequality is the top issue facing the country.
