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A new poll suggests "electability" and gender are linked for 2020 voters

This image is a split-screen of Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, both standing and speaking into microphones.
Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren at the Moral Action Congress of the Poor People's Campaign. Photos: Alex Wong/Getty Images

If voters were convinced a woman could win the presidency, Sen. Elizabeth Warren would poll even higher, according to a new report shown first to Axios by Avalanche, a progressive public-opinion research firm.

Why it matters: A 2020 key could prove to be voters' perception of the impact of gender on the 2016 election.

The findings: When the pollster used a magic wand to wash out "electability" as the top factor, the Dems' 2020 race tightened significantly, putting Warren right up with Joe Biden.

  • "[M]any voters may not need to be convinced that female a candidate is more capable — they must be convinced that Americans are capable of electing them," the report says.

Go deeper: Why 2020 could be different for women

2020 election polls