Democratic voters who backed Sanders in primaries less likely to say party will unite behind Biden % of Dem/Lean Dem registered voters who say Among those who, in January, supported
The survey – most of which took place after Bernie Sanders announced April 8 that he was suspending his presidential campaign, but before he endorsed Biden on April 13 – finds that early preferences for the general election are closely divided: 47% of registered voters say if the presidential election were held today, they would vote for Biden or lean toward supporting Biden, while 45% support or lean toward Trump; 8% favor neither Biden nor Trump or prefer another candidate.
With Biden now the party’s presumptive nominee, Democrats generally think that the party will unite around the former vice president. About six-in-ten Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters (63%) say the party will unite around Biden as the nominee, while 36% say differences and disagreements will keep many Democrats from supporting Biden.
Notably, Democrats who supported Sanders for the party’s nomination in January are the most skeptical that the party will unite around Biden. Nearly half of Democratic voters who supported Sanders for the nomination (47%) say that differences will keep many in the party from backing Biden.
Democratic voters who backed Sanders in primaries  | less likely to say party will unite behind Biden  | % of Dem/Lean Dem registered voters who say  | Differences will keep  | Democrats will  | many Democrats from  | solidly unite  | supporting Biden  | behind Biden  | All Dem /Lean Dem RVs  | 36  | 63  | Among those who, in January, supported  | for the Democratic nomination  | Biden  | 26  | 73  | 53  | Sanders  | 47  | NET Other candidates  | 33  | 66  | Notes: Based on Dem/Lean Dem registered voters No answer responses not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S adults conducted Apr 7-12, 2020  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 