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.
Subscribe to 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.
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year