For the first time since polling for the Iowa caucuses began, Pete Buttigieg topped a survey of likely Democratic caucusgoers as they prepared to participate in the presidential balloting on Monday.
According to the Focus on Rural America poll released Monday morning, former South Bend Mayor Buttigieg led among likely participants in the caucuses with 19 percent.
He was followed by Bernie Sanders with 17 percent, and — in a big surprise — Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren were tied for third with 15 percent each.
Far back in fourth place, Rural America found Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobacher with 11 percent.
The survey was conducted for the Rural America group by David Binder research, which used “landlines, cellphones, and text-to-web” to interview prospective voters.
Rural America, which interviewed a relatively small 300 Iowans, underscores Buttigieg’s self-styled role as the “ breakout candidate” in the crowded Democratic field.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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