Polls have put Bernie Sanders on track to win the democratic nomination and the presidency with a groundswell of independent support according to a new poll, released amid calls for progressive rival Elizabeth Warren to drop out of the race.

Mr Sanders had previously remained firmly in second to presumptive nominee Joe Biden throughout much of the race – however after missing out on the win in Iowa by just 0.1 per cent and claiming all-out victory in New Hampshire, his campaign has surged with momentum.

Now a new poll conducted by Ipsos Mori on behalf of Reuters has revealed the vocal socialist is leading the field with unrivalled support from Democrats and independents – and presents him as the likeliest option to beat Donald Trump in the general election.

The 78-year-old came out on top of the crowded democratic field among registered party supporters and independents, with 20 per cent saying they would vote for him compared to Mr Biden’s 17 per cent.

The figure puts him well clear of the race’s other prominent candidate on the left, Ms Warren, who carries the support of 11 per cent of the same group.

Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters

He was also found to hold a prominent lead for his views on healthcare – identified by a December 2019 Gallup poll as the most important issue of the election.

Mr Sanders’ plan for national healthcare under the banner of Medicare for all received the support of 28 per cent of those surveyed with his nearest rival on the policy, Ms Warren, sitting at 17 per cent.

The poll also put him in the lead when it came to immigration policy and the environment – however he narrowly lost out to Mr Biden when it came to his ability to unify the party, and languished behind the former vice president when it came to another of the election’s big issues, national security.

However despite Mr Biden having the benefit of eight years in the west wing to burnish his public image, the poll found Mr Sanders carried only slightly less name recognition – with 47 per cent saying they were very familiar with the candidate compared to his rival’s 48 per cent.

The results are likely to cause further concern for Mr Biden following a poor showing in the early voting states – with even his attempt to position himself as the candidate who can beat Mr Trump superseded by the Sanders campaign.

Of all voters including Republicans, 41 per cent said they would back the president if he faced off with Mr Sanders, who was predicted to carry 45 per cent of the vote with the backing of 46 per cent of independents.

The poll also suggested Mr Biden would win the popular vote, but by narrower margins – claiming support from 44 per cent of those polled with 43 per cent of independents.

Meanwhile Elizabeth Warren, once considered among the race’s frontrunners, carried a draw with Mr Trump in the polls on 42 per cent support, ceding a higher number of Democrat voters to the president while convincing 27 per cent of independents that neither were a viable choice.

Bernie Sanders gives victory speech in Manchester after New Hampshire primary win

It comes as Ms Warren, who finished third in Iowa and a distant fourth in New Hampshire, is urged to drop out of the race in favour of Mr Sanders to lend the progressive frontrunner her support.

On Thursday Ms Warren addressed a rally at a sports hall in Arlington, Virginia to consolidate support in the Super Tuesday state – one of 15 to declare their support on 3 March. The states are often considered to revitalise a campaign before heading into the democratic convention.

However last night, cheered on by a crowd chanting “I believe she will win” she was confronted by a lone sign carrying the words “endorse Bernie already”.

Ms Warren held back from criticising Mr Sanders after the two sparred over allegations he had told her a woman could not win the election – a claim furiously denied by the socialist.

Instead she hit out at Michael Bloomberg, who has begun to pick up in the polls after not competing in New Hampshire of Iowa.