April 10, 2019 - Biden Leads Among California Dems, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; 67% Of Women Say Biden Touching Issue Is Not Serious

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Former Vice President Joe Biden is the leader of the pack with 26 percent of California Democrats and voters leaning Democratic, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont takes 18 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners, with 17 percent for native daughter, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris.





U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg have 7 percent each, with no other Democratic contender topping 4 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.





Democrats and Democratic leaners give Biden substantial leads on some key factors:

31 percent say he would be the best leader, followed by 18 percent for Sen. Sanders and 13 percent for Sen. Harris;

23 percent say Sanders has the best policy ideas, followed by 13 percent each for Biden and Sen. Warren, and 11 percent for Harris;

35 percent say Biden has the best chance of defeating President Donald Trump in 2020, with 17 percent for Sanders and 9 percent for Harris.

Being a great leader is more important in a presidential candidate than having great policy ideas, all voters say 50 - 39 percent. Democrats and Democratic leaners agree 52 - 38 percent.





The issue of Biden touching women is not serious, 66 percent of all California voters say, including 67 percent of women and 71 percent of Democrats. Among all voters, 27 percent, including 26 percent of women, 37 percent of Republicans and 24 percent of Democrats, say this is a serious issue.





"'Let Biden be Biden,' say California voters, clearly unconcerned about former Vice President Joe Biden's tactile embrace of supporters," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.





"But there is one noticeable generational split. The youngest of voters are far more inclined to say, 'hands off.'"





"Sen. Kamala Harris is in the top tier of Democratic contenders on leadership and policy," Malloy said.





"Never Trump" is strong in the Golden State as 59 percent of California voters say they definitely would not vote for Trump if he is the Republican nominee for president. Another 21 percent of all voters, including 71 percent of Republicans, say they definitely will vote for Trump and 14 percent say they will consider voting for him.





California voters disapprove 64 - 30 percent of the job Trump is doing, one of the president's worst grades in any Quinnipiac University nationwide or state poll since he was elected.





Health Care





The current U.S. health care system should be improved, 55 percent of voters say, while 34 percent say the system should be replaced. Republicans favor replacing over improving the system 50 - 34 percent. In favor of improving the system are Democrats 68 - 23 percent and independent voters 58 - 33 percent.





Replacing the current health care system with a single-payer system, in which Medicare is expanded to cover health care expenses for every citizen, is a "good idea," 47 percent of California voters say, as 40 percent say it's a "bad idea."





By a wider 60 - 26 percent, voters say it's a "good idea" to keep the current health care system, but allow all adults to buy into Medicare. Republicans are divided as 44 percent say "good idea" and 37 percent say "bad idea." Support is 67 - 21 percent among Democrats and 61 - 26 percent among independent voters.





"Voters say the country's current health care program needs some tweaking, but is certainly worth keeping," Malloy added.





From April 3 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,005 California voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points, including the design effect. The survey includes 482 Democrats and Democratic leaners with a margin of error of +/- 5.9 percentage points, including the design effect.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.





Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll





Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.





1. (If Democrat or Democratic leaner) If the Democratic primary for president were being held today, and the candidates were: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Beto O'Rourke, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, Julian Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee, John Hickenlooper, John Delaney, Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, Marianne Williamson, and Wayne Messam, for whom would you vote?

DEMOCRATS/DEMOCRATIC LEANERS....................................... POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY LIBERAL..... Mod/ COLLEGE DEG Tot Very Smwht Cons Men Wom Wht Hsp Yes No Biden 26% 8% 25% 37% 26% 25% 20% 30% 24% 27% Sanders 18 23 21 15 19 17 18 30 15 24 O'Rourke 4 1 8 4 3 5 5 5 4 5 Harris 17 31 12 12 15 17 18 12 18 15 Warren 7 9 8 4 6 8 9 4 10 2 Booker 2 3 1 2 1 3 2 - 2 2 Gillibrand - - - - - - - - - - Klobuchar 2 - 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 - Castro 2 2 1 4 3 1 2 2 3 1 Gabbard 1 - - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 Inslee 1 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 1 1 Hickenlooper - - - - - - - - - - Delaney - - - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 7 10 10 4 6 8 8 2 8 5 Yang 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 - - 1 Williamson - - - - - - - - - - Messam - - - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - - - - - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - 1 - 1 - - 1 1 - DK/NA 13 12 9 12 14 12 14 9 12 15 PARTYID..... AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. Dem DemLn 18-49 50-64 65+ <50k 50-100 100k+ Biden 26% 22% 25% 23% 27% 25% 22% 25% Sanders 15 30 24 14 13 23 25 9 O'Rourke 4 5 3 6 5 5 3 5 Harris 17 15 16 21 14 17 13 21 Warren 9 - 5 6 7 4 9 7 Booker 2 4 - 6 2 - 2 4 Gillibrand - - - - - - - - Klobuchar 2 1 2 - 3 - 3 3 Castro 2 2 1 5 2 1 4 3 Gabbard 1 - - 2 - - 1 - Inslee 1 - 1 - - - 1 1 Hickenlooper - - - - - - - - Delaney - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 6 11 8 6 9 4 7 11 Yang - 1 1 - - 2 - - Williamson - - - - - - - - Messam - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - - - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - 1 - DK/NA 14 9 13 10 16 19 8 10

2. (If Democrat or Democratic leaner) Regardless of how you intend to vote in the Democratic primary for president, which candidate do you think - would be the best leader?

DEMOCRATS/DEMOCRATIC LEANERS....................................... POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY LIBERAL..... Mod/ COLLEGE DEG Tot Very Smwht Cons Men Wom Wht Hsp Yes No Biden 31% 11% 34% 41% 29% 32% 29% 27% 30% 33% Sanders 18 25 20 14 18 17 18 29 13 25 O'Rourke 3 1 6 3 4 3 3 3 4 2 Harris 13 22 13 8 11 15 14 12 15 11 Warren 7 12 6 3 5 8 8 6 10 2 Booker 3 3 3 3 1 5 2 2 3 3 Gillibrand - - - - - - - - - - Klobuchar 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 - Castro 3 5 1 3 5 - 1 2 2 4 Gabbard - - - - - - - - - - Inslee 1 - 2 1 2 - 1 - 1 1 Hickenlooper - - 1 - - - 1 - 1 - Delaney - - - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 3 6 3 2 3 3 6 1 4 2 Yang - - - 1 - - - - - - Williamson - 1 - - 1 - - 1 - - Messam - - - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 - 1 - - - - 1 DK/NA 15 10 10 19 16 15 15 15 14 16 PARTYID..... AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. Dem DemLn 18-49 50-64 65+ <50k 50-100 100k+ Biden 31% 29% 29% 31% 36% 28% 30% 34% Sanders 16 26 26 8 12 27 22 9 O'Rourke 4 1 4 5 1 2 4 5 Harris 13 15 12 17 12 11 13 17 Warren 8 2 6 4 6 4 7 7 Booker 3 5 1 8 3 1 2 5 Gillibrand - - - - 1 1 - - Klobuchar 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 5 Castro 3 2 3 4 1 4 2 3 Gabbard - - - - - - - - Inslee 1 1 1 2 - - - 3 Hickenlooper 1 - - 1 - - - 1 Delaney - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 3 3 1 4 8 1 3 5 Yang - - - - - - 1 - Williamson - - 1 - - - - - Messam - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1 1 - DK/NA 15 15 15 15 17 21 14 7

3. (If Democrat or Democratic leaner) Regardless of how you intend to vote in the Democratic primary for president, which candidate do you think - has the best policy ideas?

DEMOCRATS/DEMOCRATIC LEANERS....................................... POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY LIBERAL..... Mod/ COLLEGE DEG Tot Very Smwht Cons Men Wom Wht Hsp Yes No Biden 13% 4% 15% 17% 13% 14% 8% 24% 9% 18% Sanders 23 26 24 26 30 18 19 32 18 32 O'Rourke 2 1 6 2 2 3 4 1 3 1 Harris 11 13 17 7 7 15 12 9 13 10 Warren 13 25 15 5 14 12 15 8 16 8 Booker 1 1 - 1 - 2 1 - 1 2 Gillibrand - - - - - - - - - - Klobuchar 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 1 Castro 1 1 - 3 3 - 1 2 1 1 Gabbard 1 - - 2 - 1 1 1 1 1 Inslee - - 1 - - - - - - - Hickenlooper - - - - - - - - - - Delaney - - - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 4 5 3 4 4 4 7 2 5 2 Yang - 2 - - 1 - - 1 1 - Williamson - - - 1 - - - - 1 - Messam - - - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 - - 1 - - - 1 - DK/NA 25 19 17 28 22 28 28 18 26 23 PARTYID..... AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. Dem DemLn 18-49 50-64 65+ <50k 50-100 100k+ Biden 13% 12% 10% 15% 20% 12% 15% 11% Sanders 22 30 33 20 12 33 25 17 O'Rourke 3 - 3 2 1 2 2 4 Harris 11 11 13 8 10 7 10 17 Warren 14 8 13 8 14 12 9 17 Booker 2 - - 2 1 - - 2 Gillibrand - - - - - - - - Klobuchar 3 - 2 - 3 - 4 3 Castro 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 2 Gabbard 1 - - 4 - - 3 - Inslee - - - - - - - - Hickenlooper - - - 1 - - - - Delaney - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 4 4 1 7 8 2 3 7 Yang - 1 1 1 - 1 - - Williamson - - - - - - 1 - Messam - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 - 1 - - DK/NA 24 33 23 28 29 28 27 19

4. (If Democrat or Democratic leaner) Regardless of how you intend to vote in the Democratic primary for president, which candidate do you think - has the best chance of winning against Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election?

DEMOCRATS/DEMOCRATIC LEANERS....................................... POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY LIBERAL..... Mod/ COLLEGE DEG Tot Very Smwht Cons Men Wom Wht Hsp Yes No Biden 35% 21% 43% 41% 39% 32% 30% 43% 36% 35% Sanders 17 23 16 14 20 14 16 27 12 23 O'Rourke 5 5 4 7 5 5 5 5 6 4 Harris 9 7 13 8 8 10 11 6 10 8 Warren 4 8 3 2 3 5 4 3 5 3 Booker 1 1 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 Gillibrand - - - - - - - - - - Klobuchar 1 3 - - 1 1 1 - 2 - Castro - - - - - - - - - - Gabbard - - - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 Inslee - - - - - - - - - - Hickenlooper - - - - - - - - - - Delaney - - - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 2 2 3 1 2 2 3 1 2 2 Yang - 1 - - 1 - 1 - - 1 Williamson - - - 1 - - - - - - Messam - - - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 DK/NA 26 29 16 26 22 29 29 13 27 23 PARTYID..... AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. Dem DemLn 18-49 50-64 65+ <50k 50-100 100k+ Biden 36% 34% 33% 36% 41% 29% 35% 42% Sanders 16 18 23 11 12 23 22 5 O'Rourke 5 5 5 10 2 4 5 7 Harris 10 6 8 12 9 10 8 10 Warren 5 1 4 1 3 2 3 5 Booker - 2 - 2 1 - 1 - Gillibrand - - - - - - - - Klobuchar 1 1 - 1 - - - 3 Castro - - - - - - - - Gabbard - - - 2 - - 1 - Inslee - - - - - - - - Hickenlooper - - - - - - - - Delaney - - - - - - - - Buttigieg 2 2 2 - 3 2 - 2 Yang - - 1 - - 1 - - Williamson - - - - - - 1 - Messam - - - - - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1 1 - DK/NA 24 31 24 25 28 29 21 26

5. In the 2020 general election for president, if Donald Trump is the Republican candidate, would you definitely vote for him, consider voting for him, or would you definitely not vote for him?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Hsp Definitely vote 21% 71% 1% 16% 25% 18% 30% 16% Consider voting 14 15 2 25 14 14 15 15 Definitely not vote 59 7 97 52 55 62 52 66 DK/NA 6 7 1 7 6 6 3 3 AREA............................. Inlnd/ Bay L.A. Sthrn AGE IN YRS.............. Coastl Valley Area County Cali 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Definitely vote 24% 28% 10% 15% 28% 7% 20% 28% 32% Consider voting 18 17 14 13 11 20 11 17 7 Definitely not vote 56 50 74 67 48 65 62 52 57 DK/NA 2 5 2 4 13 8 7 3 4

6. If you had to choose, which is more important in a presidential candidate: a candidate who you think would be a great leader, or a candidate who you think has great policy ideas?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Hsp Great leader 50% 51% 48% 54% 46% 53% 47% 52% Great policy ideas 39 36 42 36 42 35 41 41 DK/NA 11 14 11 10 11 12 12 7 AREA............................. Inlnd/ Bay L.A. Sthrn AGE IN YRS.............. Coastl Valley Area County Cali 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Great leader 43% 43% 59% 50% 51% 42% 55% 57% 49% Great policy ideas 47 44 34 36 38 52 32 33 38 DK/NA 10 14 7 14 11 6 14 10 14 DEMOCRATS/DEMOCRATIC LEANERS....................................... POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY LIBERAL..... Mod/ COLLEGE DEG Tot Very Smwht Cons Men Wom Wht Hsp Yes No Great leader 52% 50% 55% 56% 50% 53% 49% 54% 50% 56% Great policy ideas 38 40 37 34 41 36 42 38 40 35 DK/NA 10 11 7 10 10 11 9 8 10 9 PARTYID..... AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. Dem DemLn 18-49 50-64 65+ <50k 50-100 100k+ Great leader 48% 70% 47% 65% 51% 50% 49% 57% Great policy ideas 42 21 44 27 37 38 44 35 DK/NA 11 10 9 8 11 12 7 7

7. In general, would you say that the United States is ready to elect a president who is a gay man, or wouldn't you say that?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Hsp Yes/Ready 39% 22% 49% 36% 42% 36% 38% 38% No 48 58 43 50 47 49 46 53 DK/NA 13 20 8 14 11 15 15 10 AREA............................. Inlnd/ Bay L.A. Sthrn AGE IN YRS.............. Coastl Valley Area County Cali 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes/Ready 41% 35% 39% 40% 41% 59% 35% 33% 35% No 46 50 54 48 43 36 60 53 45 DK/NA 14 14 7 12 16 6 5 14 20

8. As you may know, some women have said that Joe Biden touched them in a way that was not sexual, but made them uncomfortable. He has said that he doesn't believe he did anything inappropriate, but that he will be more mindful of people's personal space moving forward. Do you consider these allegations to be a serious issue, or are these allegations not a serious issue to you?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Hsp Yes/Serious issue 27% 37% 24% 26% 29% 26% 28% 36% No 66 55 71 68 65 67 67 57 DK/NA 7 8 5 6 7 7 5 6 AREA............................. Inlnd/ Bay L.A. Sthrn AGE IN YRS.............. Coastl Valley Area County Cali 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes/Serious issue 28% 31% 28% 25% 26% 39% 30% 22% 20% No 63 60 69 67 68 52 66 73 73 DK/NA 9 9 3 8 6 9 5 5 7

12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Hsp Approve 30% 78% 4% 33% 32% 27% 37% 21% Disapprove 64 16 94 61 62 67 57 75 DK/NA 6 6 2 7 6 6 6 4 AREA............................. Inlnd/ Bay L.A. Sthrn AGE IN YRS.............. Coastl Valley Area County Cali 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 26% 36% 21% 25% 36% 17% 25% 38% 37% Disapprove 63 59 76 71 55 76 69 56 58 DK/NA 10 5 3 4 9 7 6 6 5

13. In general, would you prefer to improve the current health care system in the United States, or would you prefer to replace the current health care system in the United States with something new?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Hsp Improve system 55% 34% 68% 58% 51% 59% 51% 57% Replace system 34 50 23 33 38 31 35 36 KEEP AS IS(VOL) 4 5 3 4 5 3 4 3 DK/NA 7 10 6 6 7 7 10 3 AREA............................. Inlnd/ Bay L.A. Sthrn AGE IN YRS.............. Coastl Valley Area County Cali 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Improve system 48% 49% 61% 61% 52% 48% 58% 57% 56% Replace system 41 42 30 27 36 45 34 33 25 KEEP AS IS(VOL) 2 2 2 5 6 3 4 4 6 DK/NA 9 7 7 7 7 4 5 6 13

14. Do you think that removing the current health care system and replacing it with a single payer system, in which the federal government would expand Medicare to cover the medical expenses of every American citizen, is a good idea or a bad idea?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Hsp Good idea 47% 17% 66% 42% 43% 51% 46% 45% Bad idea 40 71 22 44 42 39 45 38 DK/NA 13 12 13 14 15 10 9 17 AREA............................. Inlnd/ Bay L.A. Sthrn AGE IN YRS.............. Coastl Valley Area County Cali 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Good idea 46% 42% 50% 54% 42% 53% 50% 42% 43% Bad idea 45 42 38 33 46 34 40 46 46 DK/NA 9 16 12 13 12 14 10 12 11

15. Do you think that keeping the current health care system but allowing all adults the option of buying into Medicare is a good idea or a bad idea?