Poll: Clinton still struggles with Sanders supporters

According to data from the YouGov/Economist Poll, Clinton’s favorability rating among Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents who preferred Sanders over Clinton fell to a low-point in late May and early June as it became clearer Clinton would be the nominee. (This is a slightly different group than the “Democratic primary voters” YouGov has also tracked, a group which includes non-Democratic leaning voters). At one point in May, only 40% in this group had a favorable opinion of Clinton and 59% were unfavorable. In August the number has been more volatile, but smoothing the trend suggests an uptick since the Democratic National Convention. Clinton hasn’t received a favorable rating of less than 46% since mid-July among Bernie Sanders supporters, and her unfavorable rating has floated down to the low 50s and high 40s.

Clinton’s popularity among this group is below where it was in the fall of 2015, but notably the group itself – Sanders supporters – has likely experienced significant churn over the same period. In October and November, his support among Democrats and leaners ranged from 23% to 33%. In other words, it may be that the Sanders campaign eventually attracted voters already unhappy with Clinton as he became better known as the main alternative.