Ballot Box

Sanders maintains lead in New Hampshire

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) continues to lead in the New Hampshire primary, according to an NBC News/Wall St. Journal/Marist poll released on Sunday.

{mosads}The self-proclaimed Democratic socialist tops the Democratic field in the early voting state with 48 percent of possible primary voters, followed by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with 39 percent support.

His numbers are beginning to solidify in the Granite State, as Sanders led by a similar margin in early September.

Clinton also maintains her double-digit lead among possible Democratic Iowa caucus-goers, the poll found. The former first lady garners 47 percent support, while Sanders trails with 36 percent support.

The poll also reveals that the entry of Vice President Biden into the Democratic primary race would be a boon for the Sanders campaign.

When voters were given Biden as an option in New Hampshire, Sanders’s lead over Clinton increases by 5 points. Sanders would take 42 percent of the vote in the three-way contest, while Clinton would receive 28 percent support and Biden would draw 18 percent support.

In Iowa, Clinton’s lead over Sanders would shrink to just 5 points if Biden were included in the race. She would draw 33 percent of the vote, compared to 28 percent who would support Sanders, and 22 percent who would back Biden.

The vice president will announce his decision whether to enter the race within the next 10 days, according to a report on Saturday.

The NBC/WSJ/Marist poll was conducted Sept. 23 – 30. The Iowa poll surveyed 348 Democrats in the state and has a margin of error of 5.3 percent. The New Hampshire poll is drawn from 404 Democrats in the state and has a margin of error of 4 percent.

Read more from The Hill: 

Trump’s leads shrink in Iowa, New Hampshire