In a new poll, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is leading in Iowa by 1 percent and in New Hampshire by 19 percent over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- A new poll shows Bernie Sanders leading in Iowa by 1 percent and in New Hampshire by 19 percent, with Hillary Clinton in second in both early states just nine days before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.

The CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday shows Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders with the support of 47 percent of likely Iowa caucus-goers, compared to Clinton's 46 percent. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley trails with about 5 percent.


This is the second poll in a row that shows Sanders ahead in Iowa. With the exception of two polls taken in late August and early September, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in the lead in Iowa all last year. Two polls in early January marked a turn-around for Sanders, showing him beating Clinton for the first time since September.

In New Hampshire, Sanders leads with 57 percent in the CBS/YouGov poll -- almost 20 points higher than Clinton's 38 percent. The New Hampshire primary election is Feb. 9.

Sanders is seen by 91 percent of Iowa's Democratic voters as the candidate who would best listen to the needs of the people if he was president. About 57 percent of Democrats feel Clinton would do what big campaign donors would want instead of what regular people would want.

Clinton's strengths as seen by Democrats in Iowa are her ability to handle gun policy and terrorism, while Sanders is seen as the candidate best suited to reform Wall Street and taxes. On the issues of the economy and health care, Sanders and Clinton are nearly tied.

New Hampshirites see Sanders as most adept at handling all issues polled, except terrorism and gun policy.

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Thirty-day averages of all polls by RealClear Politics show Clinton with a 7 percent lead over Sanders in Iowa, but Sanders with a 13 percent lead in New Hampshire.

The CBS News poll was based on interviews with registered voters conducted online by YouGov, an online polling organization.