Latest Democrat Super Tuesday Polls 2016: Primary, Caucus Exit Numbers May Spell ‘Bye, Bye Bernie’

With a massive 11 states up for grabs, the latest 2016 Democratic Super Tuesday polls are pivotal as voters exit primaries and caucuses. Wednesday morning, a total of 856 delegates may have shaped a presidential nominee into formation.

Bernie Sanders, the far-left Democratic Socialist whose candidacy seemed impossible, has made a strong showing in the lead-up to Super Tuesday 2016, but if the latest polls are any indication, March 1 could be the day that dream ends. Hillary Clinton is projected to win in 10 of the 11 primaries and caucuses. Even worse news for her opponent, the two with the most sway, Texas and Georgia, are calling the race with a 30 and 37 percent spread in her favor, reported Real Clear Politics.

Super Tuesday States Polling 20+ Advantage For Hillary (With Delegate Count)

• Virginia (110)
• Texas (252)
• Georgia (116)
• Tennessee (76)
• Arkansas (37)
• Alabama (60)
• Minnesota (93)
• Colorado (79)

The Super Tuesday state where Bernie is still enjoying a strong poll lead is his home state of Vermont. Hillary had previously given up on New Hampshire because she the felt neighboring area was already decided as Sanders territory. It’s unlikely that she ever really thought a victory was in sight. Moreover, the primary is worth the least number of Super Tuesday delegates.

Super Tuesday Polls 2016 Leaning Bernie

• Vermont (26)

For a few other races, the poll numbers are much too close to call — even some that are strongly Clinton. Colorado, for instance, held their last poll at the beginning of November — a time when Sanders was still building the momentum that would eventually make him a real contender for the Democratic nomination. Oklahoma, which released its last poll via Monmouth University on Sunday, shows Bernie and Hillary with 41 and 43 percent, respectively. Polls taken from local Massachusetts universities also showed less demanding stretch for Clinton.

Super Tuesday States With A Less-Than-10-Percent Poll Spread

• Massachusetts (116)
• Oklahoma (42)

Still, the Democratic Super Tuesday race holds a distinct twist to its counterpart on the Republican side. In addition to the 865 normal delegates that on the table, 152 super delegates will also be from the 11 states. These essential votes are immune to polling, as they can select whichever candidate they see fit come the Democratic convention in 2016.

In total, they are 712, or 15 percent of delegates, who land the title “super” and exist outside of the polls. As Super Tuesday failed to crown a clear winner in 2008, many feared that they would be the deciding voice between Hillary and Barack Obama. The Washington Post published a detailed analysis of the role of the special electors, saying that while they did not think they would dictate the election, Sanders still had a strong chance of courting them.

“The rules would, in theory, allow superdelegates to vote overwhelmingly for a candidate who had lost a close national contest for pledged delegates and give the nomination to that candidate. But, in such a scenario, the superdelegates themselves would likely be divided because of conflicting state and district-level results, and the tendency of later endorsers to follow the national trajectory may give an advantage to the candidate who is ahead in the pledged-delegate contest.”

Despite the latest 2016 Democratic Super Tuesday polls, exit numbers may still surprise primary and caucus voters. The most recent national surveys give Hillary Clinton between a 2 and 17 percent lead over Sanders, including work from Investor’s Business Daily and CNN.

[Photo by Chip Somodevilla and Adam Berry/Getty Images]