Tonight's debate will feature 5 Democrats polling at 0 percent


They say one is the loneliest number, but how about zero? Ahead of the first round of the two-night Democratic debates on Tuesday, exactly half of the people on stage were polling at zero percent according to a survey done by Echelon Insights. Oof.
Author Marianne Williamson, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, former Maryland Rep. John Delaney, and Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan all had numbers below 1 percent. The highest poller on stage Tuesday will be Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who Echelon Insights has at 14 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden leads the Echelon poll with 33 percent, although he will not be debating until Wednesday night.
Echelon Insights' survey was conducted among 510 Democrats or "Democratic leaners" between July 23 and July 27. By comparison, RealClearPolitics, which aggregates polls, has Klobuchar at 1.2 percent, although Williamson, Hickenlooper, Delaney, and Ryan all sit below 1 percent in the national average as well.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
To qualify for the debates this fall, candidates will need to score at least 2 percent in four national polls or state polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. That means Tuesday will have to be a big night for a certain five of the candidates on stage — but hey, no pressure.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Can US tourism survive Trump's policies?
Today's Big Question The tourist economy is 'heading in the wrong direction'
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosis
the week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
-
'Total rat eradication in New York has been deemed impossible'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer