USA TODAY International Edition
Warren leads Biden in recent Dem. polls
VP has not led RCP average since December
WASHINGTON – Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has taken over the top spot in several recent national presidential primary polls as candidates prepare to debate Oct. 15.
Most national polls since the end of September have found Warren – not former Vice President Joe Biden – leading the pack, but by relatively narrow margins.
Biden had led in almost every national poll going back to 2018. But Warren has come out on top in four of the past five and six of the past 10.
She recently pulled ahead in the RealClearPolitics average, a frequently cited polling benchmark. Though she leads Biden only by 0.2%, it marks the first time Biden has not led the race’s RCP average since the site began comparing the polls in December.
The most recent poll to show Warren leading was released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University. That poll found her ahead of Biden 29%- 26%. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont came in third at 16%. Among those who described themselves as “very liberal,” Warren led Biden 38%- 26%, and among the “somewhat” liberal she led 37%- 23%. Biden led among moderate and conservative Democrats 35%- 22%.
“Warren maintains her strength in the Democratic primary, which has been consistently growing since the start of her campaign. This poll confirms her status as a co- frontrunner with Biden,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
The poll found that Warren held narrow leads with both men and women and that she had a 12- percentage- point lead with white voters. Biden was favored by black voters 36%- 20% and by voters over 65 by a 41%- 26% margin.
The survey was conducted Oct. 4- 7 from among 1,483 self- identified registered voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%.
Warren also has performed well in the early primary states that can be key to securing the nomination. Recent polls have shown her leading in Iowa and New Hampshire and running a close second in Nevada. Biden has held a comfortable lead in South Carolina.