Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the candidate of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party advocating more social benefits for Americans and higher taxes on the rich, now leads in the race for the party's presidential nominee in Iowa and New Hampshire
A CNN Poll conducted by SSRS from January 16 through 19 shows Sanders, 78, the top pick for the party's presidential nominee ahead of the Iowa caucus on February 1. The Iowa caucus is noteworthy as the first major contest of the United States presidential primary season.
The new poll shows 27% of registered voters that are either Democrats or Democratic-leaning Independents choose Sanders as their presidential candidate. The senator from Vermont has gained 7 points since the last CNN poll in December.
On the other hand, 24% favor former vice president Joe Biden, who in previous polls was the undisputed favorite among Democrats and their allies. The poll is the first time Biden hasn't held a solo lead in CNN's national polling on the race. The margn between Sanders and Biden is within the poll's margin of error, however.
Behind these two frontrunners are Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) with14% and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 11%. Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, one of two billionaire Democrat candidates, got the support of 5% of respondents. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and American-Chinese businessman Andrew Yang each got 4% support. Businessman Tom Steyer, the other billionaire, has 2%. No other candidate received 1% support.
In New Hampshire, a WBUR poll conducted by MassIn out Thursday shows Sanders widening his lead in this key state, which will be the second after Iowa to vote for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Sanders received 29% support among likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire. Trailing his at 17% is Buttigieg, while 14% support Biden and 13%, Warren.
CNN noted that since the December poll, Sanders has made gains in early-Iowa polling. Democrat voters in Iowa still see Sanders as the candidate who agrees with them on issues that matter most to them. The CNN poll shows 30% of respondents feel this way compared with 20% for Biden, 15% for Warren and 10% for Buttigieg. Sanders is also seen and as the candidate who best understands the problems facing ordinary Americans. Twenty-nine percent of respondents say this about Sanders. The poll reveals 18% see this of Biden, 17% of Warren and 9% of Buttigieg.
Sanders, however, isn't perceived as having the best chance of beating Trump on November 3. That honor goes to Biden. Forty-five percent of respondents say Biden has the best chance to deny Trump reelection compared to 24% for Sanders. Eight percent say this about Warren; seven percent for Bloomberg and four percent for Buttigieg. Sanders' current standing of 24%, however, compares very favorably to his 16% in December.
