Sanders, Biden, maintain lead in Iowa: poll

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sit atop the Democratic presidential field in Iowa just one day before the first-in-the-nation caucuses, according to a new poll. 

Biden and Sanders are tied at 25 percent as the first choice nominee among likely caucusgoers, according to a CBS News poll conducted by YouGov released Sunday. 

The results largely match the CBS News poll released last week, which showed the two top candidates in the lead in the state, with Sanders holding a slight 1-point lead over Biden, within the poll’s margin of error, at 26 percent to 25 percent. 

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg maintained his third place spot at 21 percent, a one point decrease from last week. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren had a one point increase in support, up to 16 percent. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) had a 2 point decrease, down to 5 percent support. No other candidates registered more than 5 percent. 

Three of the top candidates, Sanders, Warren and Klobuchar, will miss the key event as they’re held up in Washington, D.C., as President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial presses on. A vote will be held Wednesday and the president will likely be acquitted in the GOP-controlled Senate. 

The poll surveyed 2,500 registered voters in Iowa, including 1,401 self-identified Democrats as well as registered voters who lean Democrat or plan to participate in the Democratic caucus this year. The survey was conducted between Jan. 22 and 31. The margin of error is 3.9 points in Iowa.