Poll: Capitalism trounces socialism — but Sanders beats Trump

Voters narrowly back Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in a hypothetical face-off against President Trump, even as a majority has a negative view of socialism, a new poll has found.
In an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey released Sunday, 53 percent of registered voters said they have a negative view of socialism, compared to 19 percent who have a positive view. The poll found the opposite result for capitalism, which 52 percent of voters said they have a positive view of, compared to 18 percent who said they have a negative view of it. This finding came ahead of the caucuses in Iowa, where Sanders has been surging.
But the poll still found Sanders, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, with a lead over Trump, earning 49 percent support in a head-to-head matchup compared to Trump's 45 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg also led Trump.
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.
Previously, a Gallup poll from November found that 39 percent of Americans say they have a positive view of socialism, compared to 57 percent with a negative view. But pointing to the fact that 49 percent of voters in this new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll backed Sanders despite the low support for socialism, The Washington Post's Dave Weigel argued Monday that "there's clearly some wiggle room for people who disagree *conceptually* but like him a lot."
NBC News/Wall Street Journal's poll was conducted by speaking to 1,000 registered voters from Jan. 26-29. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points. Read the full results at NBC News.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why are sinkholes becoming more common?
Podcast Plus, will Saudi investment help create the "Netflix of sport"? And why has New Zealand's new tourism campaign met with a savage reception?
By The Week UK Published
-
How Poland became Europe's military power
The Explainer Warsaw has made its armed forces a priority as it looks to protect its borders and stay close to the US
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 - 21 February
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump seeks to end New York's congestion pricing
Speed Read The MTA quickly filed a lawsuit to stop the move
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top US prosecutors resign rather than drop Adams case
speed read The interim US attorney for the Southern District and five senior Justice Department officials quit following an order to drop the charges against Mayor Eric Adams
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms Gabbard as intelligence chief
Speed Read The controversial former Democratic lawmaker, now Trump loyalist, was sworn in as director of national intelligence
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published