Nevada, nationwide polls show Clinton, Sanders neck and neck

RENO, Nev., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Days out from the Nevada Democratic caucuses, a new poll shows former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders nearly tied.

The Nevada poll, released by CNN and ORC on Tuesday, found 48 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers said they'd choose Clinton as the party's nominee, while 47 percent chose Sanders. The new numbers close a gap since the last time the poll was taken in October, when Sanders was 16 points behind Clinton. The Nevada Democratic caucus is Saturday.

In a national poll released by Quinnipiac University on Wednesday, Sanders and Clinton are likewise close among Democrats. Forty-four percent would vote for Clinton in November, while 42 percent would vote for Sanders.

On the Republican side, Donald Trump commands the Nevada field with 45 percent of likely votes, while Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., takes a distant second with 19 percent. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is close behind in third with 17 percent, retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson has the support of 7 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 5 percent. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush comes in last with 1 percent.

The Nevada Republican caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 23.

In the Qunnipiac poll, Trump leads nationally with 39 percent among Republican, with Rubio and Cruz nearly tied for second place with 18 and 19 percent respectively. Kasich is in a distant fourth with 6 percent, followed by Bush and Carson who are tied at four percent.

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,342 registered voters in several states between Feb. 10-15 with a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points.

The CNN/ORC poll surveyed 1,006 likely Nevada caucus-goers between Feb. 10-15 with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.