If Frank Luntz’s focus group is in any way representative of the Democratic Party electorate, Bernie Sanders was the big winner Tuesday night.
During a post-debate focus group on Fox News Tuesday night, Luntz’s focus group was nearly unanimous in their assessment that Sanders won the first Democratic debate in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Of the 28 Democratic voters in the group, about half indicated their support for Hillary Clinton before the debate, and only a select few of them continued to think so after the debate.
“So who won the debate?” Luntz asked the group.
“Bernie Sanders!” they said in near unison. Luntz went on to ask the group’s front row for a word or phrase characterizing Sanders’ performance, and the group threw out plaudits such as “for the people,” “strong” and “straightforward.”
The group also praised Sanders for his answer about Clinton’s emails, in which he said that Americans are “sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails.”
In addition, the group were not fond of former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, both of whom they said shouldn’t be at the next debate.
