Democratic presidential underdog Bernie Sanders has grabbed the lead in early-voting state Iowa, besting a fading Hillary Clinton by 5 percentage points ahead of the state's Feb. 1 caucuses, a new poll shows.
The
Quinnipiac University survey, released Tuesday, shows the senator from Vermont with 49 percent support of likely Democratic Caucus-goers, while Clinton has 44 percent and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has 4 percent.
The margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
In December, a survey found Clinton ahead in the state with 51 percent, compared with Sanders' 40 percent.
"Iowa may well become Sen. Bernie Sanders' 'Field of Dreams,' Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, says in a statement.
"After three months of Secretary Hillary Clinton holding an average 10-point lead among Iowa Democrats, the playing field has changed."
The survey also shows:
- A wide gender gap, with men backing Sanders 61-30 percent, while women back Clinton 55-39 percent.
- Sanders leads on favorability, with 87 percent, compared with Clinton's 74 percent.
- 85 percent of Democrats say Clinton would have a good chance of winning in November, though only 68 percent say Sanders has a good shot in the general election.
Brown speculates Sanders' surge in the state is based "on the perception … that he is a better fit for Iowans."
"They see him, by solid double digit margins as more sharing their values, more honest and trustworthy and viewed more favorably overall than is Secretary Clinton," Brown said.
He adds the survey also finds Iowa Democrats see Sanders stronger on the economy and climate change, "two important issues for Democrats and a key asset for him in the home stretch."
According to the poll, on character trains, Democratic Caucus-goers rate:
- 93-3 that Sanders is honest and trustworthy, compared to Clinton's 66-29 percent score.
- 89-9 percent that Clinton has strong leadership qualities, compared to Sanders' 87-7 percent leadership rating.
- 96-1 percent that Sanders cares about their needs and problems, compared to Clinton's 76-21 percent score.
- 89-10 percent that Clinton has the right experience to be president, with Sanders at 74-17 percent.
- 88-7 percent that Sanders shares their values, with Clinton at 72-24 percent.
Meanwhile, a
second survey of Democrats released Tuesday shows Sanders with a 14-point lead over Clinton in New Hampshire. The Monmouth University survey finds the Vermont lawmaker with 53 percent support, the former secretary of state has 39 percent and former O'Malley collects 5 percent.
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