U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2015. Sanders discussed the issues of getting "big money out of politics''; dealing.``with obscene wealth and income inequality''; combating climate change; and making college education affordable. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI |
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DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has jumped ahead of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Iowa polls, where he was once down by nearly 10 percent in the race for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 election.
Of likely Democratic caucus participants polled in Iowa, Sanders is the choice candidate for 41 percent to win the primary. Clinton has 40 percent of support and Vice President Joe Biden -- who has not decided whether to run -- has 12 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has the support of 3 percent and 3 percent of participants were undecided.
In July, Clinton had 52 percent of support in Iowa, ahead of Sander's 33 percent and Biden's 7 percent.
"Sanders and Biden have a higher net favorability rating than Clinton and higher ratings for honesty and empathy," the poll said. "Clinton has the best scores for leadership and temperament to handle an international crisis."
There is a significant gender gap in support between the lead candidates. Sanders leads Clinton 49 percent to 28 percent in male support while Clinton leads Sanders with 49 percent to 35 percent in support from women.
"Sanders has seized the momentum by offering a message more in line with disproportionately liberal primary and caucus voters ... five months before voting begins in Iowa. History will eventually tell us whether he has made such a large move too soon," Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a statement. "He is the candidate of the Democratic left, against his own party's bosses and their prized presidential candidate, Secretary Hillary Clinton."
Presidential candidate Donald Trump is leading the Republican primary race in Iowa with about 26 percent of support in polls, according to RealClearPolitics.
