CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (WLVT) - While presidential Democratic hopefuls debate this week in Detroit, an informal straw poll held July 29 revealed the current direction Montgomery County voters are leaning in the Democratic presidential primary.
Nearly 150 people came to the Conshohocken Bocce Club Monday evening for the Colonial Democrats’ annual summer family barbeque. The Colonial area includes
Conshohocken Borough and Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships in Montgomery County, PA.“Montgomery County is important, and we’re the center of Montgomery County,” said Jason Salus, area leader for the Colonial Area Democrats.
As a swing state, Pennsylvania is set to play an important role in the 2020 presidential election, according to Democratic leaders. Montgomery County has historically been a good indicator of how the state will vote. Hillary Clinton won the 2016 Democratic primary with 59 percent of
Montco’s vote; she went on to win
Pennsylvania Democratic primary with 55.61 percent of the vote.
“It is one of the most important, pivotal counties that literally the nation will watch in the election cycles to see what happens in Montgomery County,” said Rep. Madeleine Dean (D) of Pennsylvania’s 4
th District.
It’s still a crowded primary—two dozen people are vying to become the Democratic presidential candidate.
At the straw poll, voters were encouraged to vote their heart.
“Not necessarily who they think will win, but who they want to win,” Salus said.
The results of the straw poll saw former Vice President Joe Biden come in first, with 38 percent. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren finished second, followed by California Senator Kamala Harris and South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttegieg.
The
latest poll averages by RealClearPolitics show similar results nationally, the four frontrunners being Biden, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Warren and Harris.
But that could change again after tonight, the second night of the second Democratic debate. Candidates are expected to clash over issues like health care, immigration and student debt.
There’s still lots of time for voters to decide. Iowa holds the first caucus in February, and the final candidate wont’ be officially nominated until the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee next July.
