
The Daily Who’s Actually Electable in 2020?
Nov 5, 2019
Nate Cohn, domestic correspondent for The Upshot at The New York Times, dives into a major new poll about the 2020 presidential race. He reveals President Trump’s strong competitiveness in key swing states and the challenges Democratic candidates face in regaining white working-class voters. The discussion also highlights how gender bias and perceptions of electability impact candidates, like Elizabeth Warren, while Joe Biden edges ahead in Iowa. Additionally, Cohn shares insights on the contrasting dynamics of polling in states like Iowa and Michigan.
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2020 Election Poll
- The New York Times conducted a poll on the 2020 election due to Democrats' focus on electability and the 2016 polling errors.
- They aimed to understand which candidates and messages would resonate in the general election.
2016 Polling Errors
- In 2016, polls inaccurately predicted a wide Hillary Clinton win in battleground states.
- This was partly due to underrepresenting white working-class voters, Trump's base.
Polling Challenges
- The Times' polling involved hundreds of thousands of calls to get 5,000 respondents.
- Pollsters faced challenges like low response rates and hostile reactions.

