The poll findings come as the three remaining Democratic candidates prepare to make their final pitches to Iowa voters in a town hall set to air on CNN Monday night.
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Democratic presidential candidates, from left: Sen. President Barack Obama praised Hillary Clinton’s political experience, a boost to her campaign as she battles an insurgent Bernie Sanders a week before the Democratic presidential nominating process kicks off. Only last month, however, Clinton led Sanders 67% to 31%; should Sanders come out of Iowa, New Hampshire and the February 20 Nevada caucuses with significant momentum, you’d expect Clinton’s lead among Palmetto State Democrats to further dwindle ahead of the February 27 primary there.
“I want to build on what we’ve already achieved”, she said in the town of Clinton along the Mississippi River on Saturday.
At an Iowa town hall hosted by CNN, a college student told the former secretary of state that he’s leaning toward caucusing for Sanders next week, as are many young Iowans.
Obama suggested he is a one-issue candidate, who will have to broaden his scope.
As Sanders rises in the polls, pundits have been increasingly speculating that Clinton will collapse from her commanding position as the frontrunner, as she did against Obama. Among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, Clinton tops Sanders 52% to 38%, with former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley well behind at 2%. For results among the 440 registered voters who are Democrats or independents who lean toward the Democratic Party, the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
Clinton, who appeared separately, said she appreciates how Sanders has energized the race, and is proud of their issues-oriented campaign rather than trading in the insults she said are common among the Republican candidates.
“But the truth is, until millions of people who are experiencing exactly what you guys are experiencing do say that, we don’t make change”, he added.
A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders cast his governing philosophy Monday as one reflecting that “the right for economic security should exist”.
Noting that Hillary Clinton’s husband had famously declared that “the era of big government is over”, Cuomo said: “You’re bringing back the era of big government and making it bigger than ever”. And while Sanders typically avoids veering into personal topics, preferring to focus squarely on policy, he spoke emotionally about what his late parents would think to see their son running for president.
Clinton’s campaign sought to revive a debate about gun control, building on her previous criticism of Sanders’ record of backing legislation granting gun manufacturers legal immunity.
The statement amounts to a ready-made attack ad by political opponents – particularly Republicans – who instead will campaign on lowering taxes, especially for the middle class. “I don’t think that’s true”, Obama said.
“I think it’s fair to say I have a 40-year record of going after inequality”, Clinton responded, pointing to her decades of work fighting racist, sexist and homophobic policies. A self-professed Bernie supporter wanted to know why she thought young people aren’t as enthusiastic about her campaign, and why some of them find her “dishonest”.
“My candidacy is in your hands”, O’Malley intoned, “do with it as you will”.
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“Hold strong at your caucus because America’s looking for a new leader”, O’Malley replied.
