Election 2016 Polls: Before Fourth Democratic Debate, Where Do The Candidates Stand?

Democratic presidential candidates will debate one last time Sunday night before the Iowa caucuses Feb. 1. While the Democratic field is noticeably sparser than the Republican one, the race between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has gotten tighter, with Sanders ahead in New Hampshire while Clinton maintains a slight lead in Iowa. Ahead of Sunday’s debate, here’s a look at where the candidates stand in various polls.

Hillary Clinton

Clinton’s lead over Sanders has slipped in recent weeks. The latest Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll has Clinton ahead by only 2 percentage points with 42 percent of the 503 likely Democratic caucusgoers who were surveyed Jan. 7-10 pledging their support. The poll had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points, showing just how close the race has gotten in Iowa. With 14 percent of Democratic caucusgoers still undecided, the race could go either way.

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Sanders is at the top of the polls in New Hampshire. A Monmouth University poll released Tuesday has Sanders with a 14-point lead over Clinton with 53 percent of the 413 likely New Hampshire voters polled Jan. 7-10. The poll had a 4.8 percentage point margin of error.

If only young voters were deciding the race, Sanders would be the front-runner. A poll from advocacy group Rock the Vote has voters “feelin’ the Bern” with Sanders capturing 46 percent compared to Clinton with 35 percent. The poll surveyed 1,141 people under the age of 35 Jan. 4-7. No margin of error given.

Former Gov. Martin O'Malley

There was concern O’Malley wouldn’t even make it into Sunday night’s debate due to low polling numbers. The former Maryland governor is polling with only 4 percent in the Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll. In the Monmouth University New Hampshire poll, he is only doing slightly better with 5 percent support.