Democrats pick Warren as winner of Detroit debates: poll

Democrats in a new poll said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was the winner of the second round of presidential debates held last week in Detroit.

Thirty-three percent of Democratic primary voters said Warren performed best, according to the Politico–Morning Consult poll released early Tuesday.

Additionally, 44 percent of respondents described Warren’s performance as “excellent” and another 30 percent said it was “good,” pollsters found. 

{mosads}Warren had a couple standout moments during the debate as she took on moderate long-shot candidates, such as former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.). 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) trailed Warren in the new poll at 18 percent. He was closely followed by former Vice President Joe Biden, who was not on the same debate stage as Sanders and Warren, at 14 percent. 

Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) finished in the top five, at 8 and 5 percent, respectively. 

All other candidates that participated in the two nights of debates polled at 3 percent or lower. 

Despite the standings in debate performance, 42 percent of Democratic primary voters said Biden has the best chance of beating President Trump.

Seventeen percent picked Sanders and 13 percent chose Warren. 

The poll surveyed 797 Democratic primary voters from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3. There is a margin of error of 3 percentage points. 

Detroit’s debates were likely the last in which voters will hear from 20 candidates over two evenings. The Democratic National Committee raised the threshold to qualify for the September debates in Houston.

Just eight candidates have qualified so far, including Warren, Biden, Harris, Booker, Sanders, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas). 

Two candidates, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, are close to meeting the requirements.