Efforts by fans of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to swap him for Joe Biden as the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee are just “wishful thinking,” according to a new survey that shows the former vice president ahead by a 3-1 margin.
That’s because the latest Zogby Analytics poll of likely Democratic primary voters has Biden leading Cuomo 61%-19%, a huge gap.
Pollster Jonathan Zogby said in his analysis shared with Secrets that only a catastrophic mistake by Biden would change the trajectory of his march to the nomination.
“Is it wishful thinking, or could Andrew Cuomo sneak his way into the nomination? Some recent polls showed Andrew Cuomo nearly tied with or leading Biden in a primary. Based on our numbers and how far Biden is ahead, it would take some serious allegations or gaffes by Biden. So it’s not entirely impossible Biden could lose the nomination, but highly unlikely,” said Zogby.
While the public likes Cuomo’s performance in the coronavirus crisis and his empathetic daily press briefings, Biden leads the governor among virtually all groups Zogby Analytics surveys.
“Biden leads Governor Cuomo among men (65% to 18%), women (Biden leads Cuomo 58% to 20%), African Americans (Biden leads Cuomo 78% to 9%), Hispanics (Biden leads Cuomo 56% to 28%), younger voters aged 18-29 (Biden leads Cuomo 60% to 17%), urban voters-small, medium and large city voters (Biden leads Cuomo 62% to 20%) suburban voters (Biden leads Cuomo 61% to 17%), Catholics (Biden leads Cuomo 66% to 18%), weekly Walmart shoppers (Biden leads Cuomo 70% to 21%), and weekly Amazon shoppers (Biden leads Cuomo 63% to 25%),” said the analysis.
Zogby referenced the recent polls and stories promoting Cuomo as an alternative to Biden, who has fumbled at times on the campaign trail.
But he said it won’t work, and he compared it to similar efforts in 2016 by Republicans afraid of having Trump lead the presidential ticket.
“In 2016 there was banter of a bait and switch at the Republican National Convention, but that was wishful thinking, as no one could deny Donald Trump the Republican nomination, which he had earned. This time around, it might be hard to deny the former vice president what seems to be rightfully his, at the moment,” said Zogby.
