More than 90 percent of Americans say they would vote for a Jewish, Hispanic, Black, female or Catholic candidate in the 2016 presidential election, but less than half of the respondents in a new Gallup poll said they would vote for a socialist.
If their party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be a socialist, only 47 percent of respondents said they would support them.
Running as a Democrat, Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders is the only self-described "democratic socialist" among presidential contenders, and has been gaining on Hillary Clinton in the polls in recent weeks. Ninety-one percent of respondents told Gallup they would vote for a Jewish candidate, and Sanders is also currently the lone Jewish candidate in the race.
Broken down by party, 59 percent of Democrats, 49 percent of independents and 26 percent of Republicans said they would back a socialist.
Even an atheist candidate would fare better, winning the hypothetical support of 58 percent.
Catholic candidates may be in luck, though, as 93 percent of respondents said they would for a Roman Catholic.
There are currently four Catholic candidates in the Republican race: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former New York Gov. George Pataki, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. The only Catholic Democrat in the race is former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.
As far as women go, 92 percent told Gallup they would vote for one. Clinton and Republican Carly Fiorina are the only two women running for either major party.
Ninety-two percent of Americans also said they would vote for a black candidate. The only African-American candidate thus far is Republican Ben Carson.
When asked about Hispanic candidates, 91 percent said they would support one. Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Rubio are the only two Hispanics in the race.
Public approval for various religions and ideologies falls after that, with 81 percent saying they would vote for a Mormon candidate, 74 percent for a gay or lesbian, 73 percent for an evangelical Christian, and 60 percent for a Muslim.
The poll was conducted June 2-7 among 1,527 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
