Most American Voters Say ‘Meh’ to 2016 Presidential Candidates in Both Parties, Except to Sanders

Looks like Americans are none too excited about the 2016 election. What’s more is, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll, a majority of Americans are going to be pretty disappointed no matter who is elected come November, given the current crop of five candidates.

Of all the candidates in both the Republican and Democratic parties, Bernie Sanders is the only one to have generated significantly more positive than negative ratings.

Among all the remaining candidates, only Sanders, Clinton’s Democratic rival, generates significantly more positive than negative ratings from Americans, with 48 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of him and 39 percent unfavorable. He’s also the only candidate described by a majority of Americans as at least somewhat likable, civil, honest and compassionate. …

At least half of Americans say they would be disappointed or even angry if either of the front-runners — Donald Trump for the Republicans or Hillary Clinton for the Democrats — are nominated, the survey shows. And a quarter said they would be disappointed or angry if both win nominations. Still another quarter would feel at best neutral if both are nominated.

Among all registered voters, 63 percent say they wouldn’t consider voting for Trump and half say the same about Clinton.

About one-fifth of those surveyed say they’d either probably or definitely vote for a third-party candidate if Trump and Clinton are the nominees. … The AP-GfK poll suggests the general election, after the parties name nominees, will be less about emotional appeals and inspiration and more about getting actual voters to cast votes before the end of Election Day. It’s what insiders call the “ground game.” And much of it is played over the airwaves at enormous expense.

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— Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata