Poll Shows Democrats Split on Direction, Not Ideology

A New York Times poll released this week asked Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents whether the party's next presidential candidate should move toward the center or to the left. Fifty-two percent chose the center, 25 percent chose the left, and 18 percent said no shift was needed.

The same survey found a 49 percent plurality holding a favorable view of socialism, compared with 22 percent unfavorable.

Responses differed by policy area.

Fifty percent supported a leftward move on health care, while 25 percent preferred a centrist approach. On crime, 49 percent favored a centrist direction and 19 percent a leftward one. Transgender issues produced a three-way split: 36 percent for the center, 30 percent for the left, and 30 percent saying the party is fine where it is.

On economic issues, support for center and left positions was nearly equal.

Monthly reported that the poll indicates the main division inside the party is not ideological but a lack of consensus on strategic direction. RealClearPolitics carried the same analysis. The survey did not project how these preferences would translate into primary or general-election outcomes.