Second debate sees little boost for Biden challengers: poll

Former Vice President Joe Biden continued to command a steady lead among the crowded primary field after the second round of Democratic debates, according to a poll released Friday. 

The Morning Consult poll conducted after the debates found that 32 percent of potential Democratic primary voters selected Biden as their top-choice candidates, compared to 33 percent after the first Democratic debate in June. 

The poll put Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in second place with 18 percent support, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in third with 15 percent support and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) in fourth with 10 percent support. After the first debate, Sanders had 19 percent support and Warren and Harris each had 12 percent support. {mosads}

The first Democratic debate did result in more changes, with Harris spiking from 6 percent support to 12 percent while Biden slid down from 38 percent. 

In the latest poll, conducted Aug. 1, researchers surveyed 2,419 registered voters who said they might vote in a Democratic primary or caucus. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. 

Biden, Harris, Warren and Sanders are among just 7 of more than two dozen contenders who have already qualified for the September debates. Biden has consistently polled as the front-runner.