Poll: Biden Picks Up Warren Supporters Ahead Of Crucial State Primaries

While it may have seemed that the departure of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., from the Democratic primary contest would serve to benefit Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that doesn’t appear to have been the case. As several major states are set to participate in the nomination process Tuesday, polling shows former Vice President Joe Biden may have nabbed at least some of Warren’s supporters.

A survey conducted by Reuters – Ipsos over the past weekend found that, compared to a poll conducted shortly before Warren dropped out of the race, 7% more Democrats and independents now say they would back Biden for the presidential nomination.

That’s compared to support for Sanders, which appears to have remained unchanged. Now, 47% said they would support Biden for the nomination, while 30% said the same for Sanders.

These findings might come across as somewhat surprising, given that among the candidates, Sanders and Warren had frequently seen eye-to-eye on policy in many ways. They’ve also been long-time allies in the Senate. So what changed?

Despite a seemingly clear overlap in potential supporters, the two candidates became less than cordial after Warren publicly accused Sanders of having allegedly once said to her that a woman couldn’t win the presidency.

Since then, Warren has also said that Sanders’ position of supporting the candidate with the most pledged delegates as nominee is self-serving and, after exiting the race, she blasted the Vermont senator for failing to rein in his more zealous online supporters.

Warren has so far declined to give her endorsement to either Sanders or Biden and may be waiting until the general election to do so.

It’s possible another reason for Warren supporters are getting behind Biden is the former vice president cementing his front runner position following Super Tuesday and, before that, his blowout win in South Carolina. Some of them could no doubt see this as an indication that Biden has the support needed to defeat President Donald Trump this fall.

Six states, including Michigan and Wisconsin, are picking their choice for the Democratic presidential nominee Tuesday. Sometimes dubbed “mini-Tuesday,” the day’s results could very well serve to knock Sanders too far behind in the delegate count to be able to catch up. If these recent polling numbers are any indication, Biden may well be coming out as the clear nomination winner soon.