Politics

Sanders Leading In New Hampshire As Democratic Primary Season Heats Up

Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.

REUTERS

Patrick Hauf Contributor
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Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders holds a firm lead in New Hampshire one day prior to voting, a new poll shows. 

Sanders is polling at 27% in a Boston Globe/WBZ/Suffolk University poll released Sunday night, with former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg trailing with 19%. The New Hampshire primary vote takes place Tuesday. Buttigieg finished first in the arguably dubious Iowa caucus with slightly more delegates than Sanders. (RELATED: 78-Year-Old Bernie Sanders Flip-Flops On Promise To Release Medical Records)

The New Hampshire poll has Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar in third place with 14%. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are tied at 12% in fourth place. 

Sanders has campaigned on running against the “Democratic establishment” — as moderate Democrats have expressed doubts that he can win a general election. A potential factor in Sanders’ early success in the primary, according to some analysts, is the split of the moderate voters between Buttigieg, Biden, and Klobuchar.

Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidates former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren gather onstage before the start of the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., February 7, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Biden, who finished fourth in Iowa after leading in nearly every national poll, is in danger of losing financial backing if he has another poor showing in New Hampshire. The Biden campaign is holding a lead in Nevada, which holds its caucuses on February 22. (RELATED: Biden Jokingly Calls Student ‘Lying Dog-Faced Pony Soldier’ At New Hampshire Event)

In South Carolina, where Biden has held a strong lead for months, the Associated Press reports that the race could soon become competitive with Sanders gaining momentum and billionaire Tom Steyer continuing to spend millions in advertising. The South Carolina primary will be held on February 9.

“Super Tuesday” — when 14 states vote in the primaries — takes place on March 3. These are the first states where former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg officially begins competing in the race after spending $200 million of his own fortune. (RELATED: Sanders: ‘Being Pro-Choice Is An Essential Part’ Of Being A Democrat)

The White House, as reported by Politico, sees the early chaos of the Democratic primary as a win for President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. 

“The Dems are crazed, they will do anything,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “Honesty & truth don’t matter to them. They are badly wounded. Iowa vote count was a disaster for them!”