Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laps the Democratic field in Iowa but U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., leads in New Hampshire, new polls show.
Even with Vice President Joe Biden looming over the race, Clinton is in firm command of Iowa, a new Suffolk University poll shows. Iowa holds the first caucus, kicking off the procession of primaries and caucuses to determine the presidential nominees.
Clinton takes 54 percent while Sanders stands in distant second with 20 percent. But more than half of Iowa Democrats -- 52 percent -- think the continued controversy over her using private servers for her email during her time at the State Department will hurt Clinton.
“There is a fierce loyalty to Hillary Clinton among likely Democratic caucus-goers in Iowa,” said David Paleologos, the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “Despite reports suggesting her vulnerability, these Democratic voters say they don’t believe she broke the law. They are sticking by her in large numbers, even though a majority believes the email scandal will hurt her in the general election.”
With buzz growing that Biden will enter the race, the vice president stands in third with 11 percent but Iowa Democrats generally hold him in high regard.
“Biden’s modest early support despite a favorability rating of more than 87 percent shows a lack of organization and funding, as he is not officially a candidate,” said Paleologos.
Clinton is the chief beneficiary if Biden stays out, taking 39 percent of his supporters while Sanders pulls 29 percent of them. Gov. Martin O’Malley, D-Md., takes 18 percent of Biden’s supporters.
Without Biden supporters behind him, O’Malley garners 4 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., takes 1 percent while former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Lincoln Chafee, D-R.I., gets less than 1 percent.
The poll of 500 likely Iowa Democratic caucus voters was taken from Aug. 20-24 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.
While Clinton has the edge in Iowa, a new poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with ties to prominent Democrats, shows Sanders ahead in New Hampshire, home of the first primary.
Sanders leads with 42 percent followed by Clinton at 35 percent. Webb stands in distant third with 6 percent followed by O’Malley with 4 percent and Chafee with 2 percent. Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard professor and campaign finance advocate who is considering entering the race, pulls 1 percent. Biden was not included in the poll.
The poll shows Sanders is seen as favorable by 78 percent of New Hampshire Democrats but 12 percent see him as unfavorable. Clinton is seen as favorable by 63 percent of those surveyed while 25 percent see her in an unfavorable light.
“New Hampshire is really unique in the Democratic race,” said Dean Debnam, the president of PPP. “We still find Hillary Clinton well ahead everywhere else, but it’s clear at this point that there’s a real race in the Granite State.”
The poll of 370 usual Democratic primary voters was taken from Aug. 21-24 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.7 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
