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Updated at 2:05 p.m. Oct. 16, 2015

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California’s presidential primary isn’t until June 7, but Bernie Sanders can feel confident about his chances in San Diego County.

The 74-year-old Vermont senator has a commanding lead in a week-old online poll run by the county Democratic Party.

“Out of the 627 total votes cast so far, Bernie Sanders is in the lead with 55 percent, followed by Hillary Clinton with 36 percent and potential candidate Joe Biden with 7 percent,” the Blue View party newsletter said Thursday.

“The remaining candidates garnered less than 1 percent each.”

County Democratic Party Chairwoman Francine Busby, who attended Tuesday’s Las Vegas CNN debate, asked in her column who had won.

“From my vantage point,” she wrote, “the answer was easy: Democrats!”

Before the debate, she said, she assumed that the “many donors and [Democratic National Committee] insiders would skew toward Clinton. But judging by the raucous Sanders rally outside the hotel, it was clear that he has aroused a passionate following that defies demographics.”

The best part of the debate, she wrote, was that “anyone on that stage would be better than a Republican.”

San Diego’s presidential survey is ongoing, though.

“We’ll be keeping the poll open for another week to get input from as many local Democrats as possible,” the newsletter said. “You can go to sddemocrats.org/strawpoll to vote and share today.”

On Friday, party leader Busby said she’s not surprised Sanders is topping the local charts.

“Bernie is inspiring Democrats and others who are passionate about the issue of income inequality, many of whom were active in the Occupy Wall Street movement,” she said. “This is an issue that resonates with many voters.”



Sanders has not been to San Diego yet, but Busby predicts he will plan a visit here. Clinton attended a San Diego fundraiser in August, and Busby said: “I believe that she will return for more fundraisers and for a large rally similar to the one that she held at SDSU in 2008. Governor O’Malley has already made several visits to San Diego to meet with small groups of people.”



She called the current poll a “snapshot” and said: “We will continue to test the water with straw polls as the election process progresses.”

A Fox5SanDiego.com poll Tuesday night showed 79 percent of respondents saying Sanders had won the debate, followed by Clinton with 14.5 percent. (But Clinton is leading more scientific polls of Californians. She’s the top pick by an average of 12.5 points.)

Meanwhile, the county GOP is promoting its second debate watch party — Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Phil’s BBQ on Sports Arena Boulevard.

Phil Pace, the barbecue chain’s owner, gave $5,584 to Republican candidates and causes in 2014, according to followthemoney.org. In 2013, he gave mayoral candidate Kevin Faulconer at least $1,000.

Local Democrats expressed themselves on social media, and one Twitter feed is called @SanDiego4Bernie.

Ok MSM. Keep telling us Clinton won the debate. The people know the truth. #Bernie2016 #DebateWithBernie pic.twitter.com/Uo5PkwPcS0 — San Diego for Bernie (@SanDiego4Bernie) October 14, 2015

Bernie Sanders Holds 19-Point Lead Among San Diego Democrats was last modified: by

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