Nevada Caucus Poll: Sanders Leads By Double Digits, Celebrities Think Warren Won Debate

A new Nevada poll ahead of the state's Democratic caucus Saturday isn't telling us anything we don't already know -- progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, still leads with former mayor Pete Buttigieg way behind him.

Sanders received 30.4% support among Nevada Democrats in an 8 News Now/Emerson College poll conducted Feb. 19 and 20 with 425 respondents.

Buttigieg took 16.9%; former Vice President Joe Biden had 16.1%; Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, 12.1%; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, 11%; billionaire Tom Steyer, 9.8%; and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-HI, 1.9%.

The poll also shows 1.8% of respondents saying they'd vote for someone else. Former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg isn't on the Nevada ballot but will be on Super Tuesday (March 3) when primaries are held in 14 states.

The polls were held before Wednesday evening's raucous night’s primetime Democratic presidential nomination debate in Las Vegas. Warren and Sanders are perceived to have won that debate. Bloomberg came out poorly after being chewed-up by Warren, to the delight of Warren's celebrity and other supporters.

The results of the new poll by 8 News Now/Emerson College is also broadly similar to one conducted by Reuters/Ipsos national poll and released Tuesday where 25% of registered Democrats and independents said they'll vote for Sanders. The Medicare-for-all champion won last week’s New Hampshire primary and placed second to former mayor Pete Buttigieg in Iowa.

The poll had Bloomberg the choice of 17% of respondents. Biden received support from 13%; Buttigieg got 11%; 9% backed Warren; and 5% said they'd vote for Klobuchar. This confirms Sanders’ popularity over the past several weeks, especially among men, African-Americans and rural residents. Sanders still holds the lead in polls for Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday. On the other hand, Bloomberg has seen his share of support among registered voters increase in each of the past three weeks.

Biden has long led in national polls among Democrats vying to challenge president Donald Trump. His defeats at Iowa and New Hampshire, however, means Biden must win or rank among the top three on Super Tuesday for him to remain a viable nominee. Bloomberg's entry into the race makes Biden's job more difficult given the former’s multi-million dollar ad blitz in the Super Tuesday states.