Democratic presidential nominee front-runner Joe Biden’s lead over the crowded field dropped to five points in a CNN poll conducted after Wednesday and Thursday’s debates.
Biden received the support of 22% of registered Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents in the CNN poll, conducted June 28 through June 30, down 10 points from the poll’s previous iteration in late May.
Meanwhile, California Sen. Kamala Harris saw her support more than double from 8% to 17%, bringing her to second place in the field following her dominant debate performance in which she excoriated Biden’s record on civil rights and forced busing.
Some 41% of Democratic voters who watched the debates thought Harris did the best job while on stage, while only 10% thought Biden performed the best, the CNN poll found.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JUNE 27: Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks as Sen. Bernie Sanders (C) (I-VT) and former Vice President Joe Biden look on during the second night of the first Democratic presidential debate on June 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
New York magazine Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi tweeted after Thursday’s debate that a source close to Biden’s campaign was “freaking out” about the former vice president’s performance on stage.
“According to Biden’s staff, he isn’t listening to his debate prep and he’s ‘set in his ways,'” Nuzzi tweeted.
Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield denied Nuzzi’s report in a one-word tweet Thursday.
Nope.
— Kate Bedingfield (@KBeds) June 28, 2019
The CNN poll’s findings are consistent with a recent Morning Consult/FiveThirtyEight poll, which also found Biden’s support drop 10 points following the debates. (RELATED: Support For Joe Biden Plummets 10 Points After Debate)
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren also saw a substantial boost in her support, going from 7% in May to 15% in June.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders came in fourth place in the CNN poll, receiving the support of 14% of registered Democratic voters.
The CNN poll surveyed 656 registered Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents via landline and cellphone. The margin of error is 4.7 points.
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