Biden opens up double-digit lead over Sanders in early primary states: poll

Former Vice President Joe Biden leads Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) by 11 points in a new poll of early primary and caucus states ahead of the 2020 presidential race.

Biden leads the announced Democratic primary field with 38 percent, according to the Morning Consult survey, followed by Sanders at 27 percent. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is the choice of 8 percent of voters, and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tied for fourth place, with 7 percent each.

The gap between Biden, who has yet to enter the race, and Sanders narrows slightly among primary voters nationwide, pollsters found.

{mosads}Biden has 35 percent support, followed by Sanders at 25 percent. Harris and O’Rourke (D-Texas) are tied in third place nationwide, with 8 percent each, with Warren rounding out the top five, with 7 percent.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was favored by 4 percent of voters, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) both came in at 2 percent. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) polled at 1 percent. 

The survey also found Sanders was the most popular second choice among Biden supporters, and vice versa. Thirty-three percent of Biden supporters listed Sanders as their second choice, while 35 percent of Sanders supporters named Biden.

The poll of 13,725 registered voters nationwide, conducted March 18–24, has a margin of error of 1 percentage point. The margin of error rises to 4 percentage points among voters living in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

— Updated at 11:59 a.m.