Sanders takes lead in new poll of New Hampshire

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) leads the field of contenders in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) close behind.

The latest CNN-University of New Hampshire survey finds Sanders at 21 percent, followed by Warren at 18 percent.

{mosads}Former Vice President Joe Biden comes in third place at 15 percent, followed by South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 10 percent and three candidates — tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) — tied at 5 percent support.

Sanders has the highest favorability rating in the field at 66 percent positive and 23 percent negative. Warren posts a 63-25 split and Biden rings in at 55-30.

New Hampshire voters also view Sanders as most likable, with 27 percent liking him the most, 20 percent saying Biden, 14 percent for Buttigieg and 10 percent for Warren.

The top second choice for Sanders’s voters is Warren, at 43 percent, followed by 20 percent who listed Biden.

Among Warren’s backers, 38 percent listed Sanders as their second favorite, followed by 18 percent who said Buttigieg.

And for Biden’s supporters, 27 percent said Warren is their favorite second choice, followed by 15 percent who said Sanders.

Buttigieg’s supporters listed Warren (23 percent) and Sanders (19 percent) as their favorite backups.

Fifty-seven percent of New Hampshire voters are still trying to decide who they will support. Only 23 percent have definitely decided, and 21 percent are leaning toward one candidate.

The CNN-University of New Hampshire poll is a qualifying survey for the December debate. Candidates must reach 4 percent support in four national or early-state polls or 6 percent support in two early-state polls conducted between Oct. 16 and Dec. 12.

The survey of 574 likely 2020 Democratic primary voters was conducted between Oct. 21 and Oct. 27 and has a 4.1 percentage point margin of error.