GOP pollster: Medicare for all could be a litmus test in Democratic primaries

Republican pollster Jim Hobart said on Tuesday that Democratic candidates may have to pledge to support Medicare for all in their primaries, even though it could hurt them in a general election. 

“I think what you are going to see in the 2020 Democratic primaries is a lot of candidates adopting socialist tenants to their platform,” Hobart, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies, told Hill.TV’s Joe Concha on “What America’s Thinking.” 

“I think supporting single-payer health care, which is more or less Medicare for all, is almost going to be a litmus test for Democratic candidates in the presidential primary in 2020,” he continued. 

“I think if you come out and say you do not support that, it’s going to be tough, even though not supporting it might be a better position to have in a general election.” 

Hobart’s comments come as progressive candidates, such as New York congressional hopeful Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who supports Medicare for all,  gain prominence within the Democratic Party. 

However, other Democrats, such as Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), have said Ocasio-Cortez’s platform will not necessarily work across the country. 

“I think it’s the future of the party in the Bronx, where she is,” Duckworth said.

“I think that you can’t win the White House without the Midwest and I don’t think you can go too far to the left and still win the Midwest.” 

— Julia Manchester