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Molly Prince Politics Reporter

More than two-thirds of Democrats believe Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s claim that “the world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change” despite the congresswoman later saying that “you’d have to have the social intelligence of a sea sponge” to take her literally.


The freshman congresswoman also doubled down on the claim in April, again warning that there is only 12 years remaining and that “for everyone who wants to make a joke about that, you may laugh, but your grandkids will not.”

Ocasio-Cortez later flipped her position in early May, referring to the 12-year deadline as merely “dry humor + sarcasm” and asserted that those who took her literally “have the social intelligence of a sea sponge.”


While conducting the survey, the poll did not identify Ocasio-Cortez or any other politicians who promulgated the 12-year deadline. (RELATED: Liz Cheney Stumps Green New Dealers With One Question: Did You Fly Here?)

Interestingly, at least five of the Democrats seeking the party’s presidential nomination have repeated the talking point, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Sen. Kamala Harris.

The Rasmussen Reports poll was conducted between May 20 and 21. It was composed of a sample size of 1,000 likely voters with a 3-point margin of error.

Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not return The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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