Feel The Biden: Biden is siphoning supporters from BOTH Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders

[Cali_Democrat]

The toplines from our new NBC News/Marist polls out Sunday were certainly interesting, but here's one data point inside the numbers that shouldn't be ignored. Biden is siphoning supporters from BOTH Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. With Biden out of the race, Clinton stands at 48 percent in Iowa, while Sanders gets 37 percent. Add Biden into the mix, and BOTH Clinton and Sanders drop 10 points apiece.

In New Hampshire, a hypothetical Biden candidacy costs Clinton eight points of her support, while the vice president shaves six points from Sanders. It's pretty counterintuitive; after all, both Biden and Clinton are well-known mainstream Democrats with close ties to the current administration and not a lot of daylight between themselves and the White House, while Sanders is a non-traditional pol who's functioned outside the two party system for most of his career. But it could underscore something deeper, too.

We've been wondering for a while now how close Sanders has been to his ceiling. If a real chunk of his supporters are peeling off in favor of a candidate who's not even in the race yet, it's possible that, outside of a hard core of die-hards, the top layer of Sanders' support is softer than many folks had thought.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/lid-joe-biden-catching-fire-n423696

[still_one]

5. Nope, doesn't say that at all

[HerbChestnut]

2. Anything is possible at this point.

So far it's pretty clear that if Biden enters it will be a three way race. The first couple of debates will really shake things up, whether that means separating out a front runner, mixing support between the three, or someone else like O'Malley gaining momentum.

[HereSince1628]

3. Yes, in combination with Sanders really not getting as much media as Biden

While Clinton has had the drag from the un-scandal.

When you look at, you sort of have to see it in context. It's not just that Biden is in. Biden is in as other things are going on.

Right now Biden is an alternate to the sagging Clinton campaign. When senate comes back in session, Biden will get nailed to TPP that'll be a test for the base which all summer has been drifting not only left, but toward populist domestic positions, rising to Sanders and drifting toward progressive language with Clinton.

It's going to be interesting.

[still_one]

4. I am calling it bullshit until Biden actually announces. The media is trying cause chaos within the

Democratic party, so they are pushing this as far as it will go.

[AtomicKitten]

6. Bernie polled ahead 11pts in NH with/without Biden in.

This could be a huge variable state by state.

[LettuceSea]

7. Things are looking good for Joe!

I think he's our best bet for the General Election and an Obama 3rd term. Very few of our voters will stay at home, while many GOP votes will. If we want to, you know, WIN THE GENERAL, Biden/Warren Biden/Gillibrand will be tough to beat!

Go Joe!

[restorefreedom]

8. i agree that those are both good potential tickets

it seems though that his heart is not in this, that he would just be caving to pressure from establishment dems who think hillary is tanking but are afraid of bernie

whatever he does, i hope it truly what HE wants to do.

[LettuceSea]

11. "whatever he does, i hope it truly what HE wants to do." +1

As much as I'd love a Biden presidency, it needs to be a Biden Family decision, not a Democratic Party decision.

[restorefreedom]

12. yeah. i really do worry that he is being pressured

and he doesn't deserve that.

[TheKentuckian]

9. Joe has an even bigger Iraq war vote problem than Clinton. He can't even pretend to be "tricked"

as he was far too in the loop with his plum committee chairs and decades deep foreign policy knowledge and he has about as big of a affinity for big banks and corporations problem but he does at times tell the real truth (they call those occasions gaffes), hasn't translated the influence from the banks to millions, and is extremely likeable (who wouldn't want to have a few beers with uncle Joe).

I don't see where the traction comes from really though.

[Joe the Revelator]

10. Biden/Warren is a winner all day.

Who's going to top that? Trump/Huckabee?

[Skwmom]

15. Biden/Clinton - I'm just not buying into the recent articles about their relationship.

And Joe meeting with Warren and Obama speaking at the same venue might have taken place to give the false impression that he would put Warren on the ticket.

Even if he doesn't run, it sucks up the oxygen in the media and benefits Clinton.

[AgingAmerican]

13. Biden isn't running

Speculative nonsense

[Bonobo]

14. Not equally. nt