These numbers are from a newly released Gallup Poll -- done between June 2nd and 7th of a random national sample of 1,527 adults, and has a margin of error of 3 points.
It shows that a lot of past barriers preventing people from getting elected as president seem to have been overcome. Even two groups who experience a lot of discrimination -- atheists and muslims -- now have a significant majority who say they could vote for someone with that background. But there is one group that still has more people saying they wouldn't vote for them than saying they would -- socialists.
Around a hundred years of propaganda by right-wing capitalists is still having an effect on too many Americans. Half of the population (50%) would not vote for an admitted and open socialist, while only 47% say they could vote for a socialist. It seems that too many people still believe the right-wing lies about socialism (that it means communism and dictatorship). It's not true, but ingrained perceptions are hard to change.
There is some evidence that this could change. Note that 69% of young people (age 18 to 29) say they could vote for a socialist. But that is for the future. Right now the baby boomers rule the electoral roost (voting in much larger numbers than young people), and only 34% to 37% of them would vote for an admitted socialist.
This is something that Democrats need to keep in mind, because one of their candidates has run (and been elected) repeatedly as a socialist -- and if that candidate wins the nomination, you can bet the Republicans make sure every American knows that.
As a socialist myself, I wish it wasn't that way -- but it is. America hasn't grown up enough to accept socialism (unless it is disguised as something else). The United States has many socialist elements -- Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, free public education, food stamps, etc. -- but none of them could have been passed if they had worn the socialist label.
America is trending toward socialism, but the sad fact is, it's still not ready to vote for someone who wears the socialist label.
