Sanders opens 12-point lead nationally: poll

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has opened a 12-point lead nationally in the Democratic presidential primary race, according to a new poll. 

Sanders has 31 percent support in the NPR–PBS NewsHour–Marist poll released early Tuesday, pushing him into the top spot, which had been held by former Vice President Joe Biden. 

Sanders’s support shot up 9 points since last month’s poll, following his victory in the New Hampshire primary. 

Biden’s support, however, decreased by 9 points, to 15 percent, in the new survey. Biden’s downturn pushed him into third place, behind former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who surged into second place with 19 percent. 

Bloomberg’s support increased by 15 points since last month’s poll. The billionaire, who is self-funding his campaign, also qualified for Wednesday night’s debate with his performance in the survey. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) had a 5-point decrease to 12 percent support, based on the new poll. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) had a 5-point increase to 9 points following her third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary. 

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who appears to be leading the field in the delegate count, is closely trailing Klobuchar at 8 percent support, a 5-point decrease in one month. 

No other candidates registered at more than 2 percent support. 

The poll surveyed 527 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and was conducted Feb. 13–16. There is a margin of error of 5.4 percentage points.