AP, Washington :
Bernie Sanders is still behind when it comes to delegates, but he has one clear advantage over his Democratic and Republican presidential rivals – a lot of people actually like him.
By 48 per cent to 39 per cent, more Americans have a favorable than an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic candidate, giving him the best net-positive rating in the field, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
Unlike the other candidates, Sanders also is doing better as more Americans get to know him: His favorable rating is up from an earlier AP-GfK poll.
The numbers speak to Sanders’ rapid rise from a relatively unknown Vermont senator to a celebrated voice proclaiming political revolution.
They also reflect how unpopular the rest of the field is.
But the growing popularity may be coming too late for Sanders, who lags Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton with time running out in the primary campaign.
After winning the Democratic caucuses in Wyoming on Saturday, Sanders has now won seven of the past eight state contests. Still, to win the party nomination, he must take 68 percent of the remaining delegates and uncommitted superdelegates.
The poll was conducted March 31-April 4, before Sanders and Clinton sparred publicly over who was best qualified to be president.
Clinton gets unfavorable ratings from 55 per cent of Americans, while just 40 per cent have a favorable opinion. A whopping 69 per cent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Republican front-runner Donald Trump, and just 26 per cent have a favorable opinion.
