Survey says: LGBTs prefer Hillary over Bernie, 48%-41%
by Chuck Colbert
According to a recent Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) survey of LGBTs, Hillary Clinton topped Bernie Sanders by a seven-point margin, 48 percent to 41 percent.
The question asked respondents, “Which candidate would you vote for, if the election were to be held today?” Answering the same question, Donald Trump captured two percent, with John Kasich and Marco Rubio, each receiving one percent. All other candidates received less than one per cent.
CMI conducted the community poll of 563 LGBT survey respondents between Feb. 7-10, with all participants saying that they were registered to vote in the U.S and planned to vote in the 2016 presidential elections. Respondents haled from 46 states.
In another finding, CMI’s poll found that the Democratic candidates were nearly evenly split on who would be “the most supportive of LGBT civil rights.” Thirty-one percent said Sanders, with 25 percent saying Hillary Clinton. Yet another 37 percent indicated that the two candidates are equally supportive, 5 percent are not sure, and two percent indicated that neither candidate is supportive of LGBT civil rights.
When asked who of the Republican presidential candidates would be “the most supportive of LGBT civil rights,” the results tell an entirely different story. Seventy-three percent indicated that none of the Republican candidates are supportive of LGBT civil rights; six percent selected John Kasich; four percent Donald Trump, and the remaining candidates received two percent or less.
Civil rights issues are of great concern for LGBT survey respondents. For example, when respondents were asked, “When choosing a President, how important is it to you that the candidate shares the following views on important issues facing Americans today?” Among the 18 issues presented, several civil rights issues emerged as important:
Ninety-eight percent said that “supporting LGBT civil rights” was very or somewhat important.
Ninety-eight percent indicated that “nominating LGBT supportive Supreme Court candidates” is very or somewhat important.
Ninety-six per cent of LGBTs said that “addressing racism/racial inequality in the U.S.” was very or somewhat important.
These civil rights issues were as important as improving the economy, at 98 percent importance.
On the other hand, conservative issues garnered little support among the LGBT community:
Eighty-nine percent indicated that “reducing or eliminating abortions” is not an important view of their preferred candidate, or is a view they disagree with.
Eighty-seven percent indicated that “repealing the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare” is not an important view of their preferred candidate, or is a view they disagree with.
Seventy-two percent indicated that “protecting gun ownership rights” is not an important view of their preferred candidate, or is a view they disagree with.
Fifty-nine indicated that “stopping illegal immigration to the U.S.” is not an important view of their preferred candidate, or is a view they disagree with.
Participants were also asked, “In which ways have you supported or do you intend to support your preferred presidential candidate?” Forty-six percent indicated that they have donated or would donate directly to candidate’s campaign, 46 percent forwarded or will forward social media, 24 percent have attended or plan to attend a rally or event, and 14 percent have volunteered or plan to volunteer to support their preferred candidate.
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| CMI Senior Research Director David Paisley |
David Paisley, senior research director at San Francisco-based Community Marketing & Insights, offered a perspective on the results.
“What is striking in this research is how little support the current group of Republican candidates have among the LGBT community in the 2016 presidential elections,” he said. “Unless something changes, the party may largely forfeit about five percent of adults in the United States to the Democrats, which can cause important swings in tight elections. Republicans perhaps could connect with LGBTs on issue like the economy, taxation and influence of government in private lives, but instead have chosen policies not supportive of LGBT Americans.”
CMI has been conducting LGBT consumer research for more than 20 years. Its practice includes online surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews and advisory boards in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
CMI’s research panel of over 70,000 LGBTs was recruited over a 20-year period from more than 300 LGBT media, events and non-profit organizations. This means that the results summarized here are representative of LGBT consumers who are out and who interact within the LGBT community, but are not necessarily representative of the entire LGBT community.
IN THE NEWS
Volume 17
Issue 12
