Private Democratic Poll: AOC Most Recognizable Democrat in America Among Swing Voters

All I can say is, Trump should probably start planning the 2021 inaugural parade.

Who defines the Democratic party? For millions of so-called “swing voters,” one name dominates: Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.

Axios got hold of the poll, that is being circulated privately by Democrats and is scaring the beejeebees out of many of them.

Why it matters: These Democrats are sounding the alarm that swing voters know and dislike socialism, warning it could cost them the House and the presidency. The poll is making the rounds of some of the most influential Democrats in America.

“If all voters hear about is AOC, it could put the [House] majority at risk,” said a top Democrat who is involved in 2020 congressional races. “[S]he’s getting all the news and defining everyone else’s races.”

The poll — taken in May, before Speaker Pelosi’s latest run-in with AOC and the three other liberal House freshmen known as “The Squad” — included 1,003 likely general-election voters who are white and have two years or less of college education.

These are the “white, non-college voters” who embraced Donald Trump in 2016 but are needed by Democrats in swing House districts.

The group that took the poll shared the results with Axios on the condition that it not be named, because the group has to work with all parts of the party.

The findings:

Ocasio-Cortez was recognized by 74% of voters in the poll; 22% had a favorable view.

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota — another member of The Squad — was recognized by 53% of the voters; 9% (not a typo) had a favorable view.

Socialism was viewed favorably by 18% of the voters and unfavorably by 69%.

Capitalism was 56% favorable; 32% unfavorable.
“Socialism is toxic to these voters,” said the top Democrat.

Does it matter that among “Main Street” Democrats, AOC has a toxicity rarely seen in a national political figure? It does if Trump can successfully tie any Democratic nominee for president to the radicals. Trump has been trying out some “Democrats are socialists” lines on the campaign trail, much to the delight of his audiences. What this polls says is that crucial voters that many observers and professional Democratic operatives believe the party absolutely has to have to beat Trump are not only unconvinced, but are turned off by the most recognizable Democrats in the party.

Some Democratic candidates are denouncing socialism while pushing socialist ideas. It’s an old con perfected by Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. What seems clear is that if Trump can successfully tie the word “socialism” to the Democratic nominee, a second term is more probable.