Biden Still in the Lead Among Democrats, Competition Stiffens

Former Vice President Joe Biden continues to hold a considerable lead over his fellow Democratic presidential contenders, a new national poll finds, although a separate survey of early voting states has shown a slightly different situation with Biden’s two top progressive challengers not far behind him.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Sunday shows Biden leading with 27% among Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents, with Senator Bernie Sanders trailing right behind at 19%, slightly lower than in July. Senator Elizabeth Warren trails just behind Sanders at 17%, having gained 6 percentage points since July.

Kamala Harris stands at 7% from 11% in July, while South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg rounds out the top five at 4%, CNN reports.

But while Biden still dominates the Democratic field, according to a CBS News and YouGov survey among likely Democratic voters in early voting states, the former vice president is in a close race with Sanders and Warren in several states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Only in South Carolina does Biden enjoy a considerable lead over the two senators due to his strong support among African-Americans.

CNN further writes that Biden is closely tied with Warren in 18 states that will hold primaries or caucuses early in 2020. Whereas Warren’s support there is at 26%, Biden’s is at 25%. Sanders is in third place with 19%, followed by Harris at 8%, Buttigieg at 6% and Beto O’Rourke at 4%.

According to the CBS News/YouGov survey, billionaire Tom Steyer qualifies for the October Democratic debate.

Biden’s campaign, seeking to keep expectations for his performance in Iowa in check, said recently that the former vice president could afford to lose the state and still get the nomination.

“Do we think we have to win Iowa? No. Do we want to win Iowa? Yes, we do,” a senior campaign aide said Tuesday. “We think we’re going to win; we know it’s going to be a dogfight. The same thing is true in New Hampshire.”

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