The Texas congressman was ranked fourth favourite by voters behind the more established figures of Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.

It puts him ahead of other potential candidates such as New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and senators Kamala Harris, Chris Booker and Elizabeth Warren.

Mr O’Rourke, 46, has refused to rule himself out for a bid after earning national recognition for his campaign against Republican senator Ted Cruz.

In the wake of his loss by just three per cent, bookmakers made him second favourite for the Democratic nomination behind Ms Harris.

Now a Harvard CAPS/Harris online poll of around 450 Democratic and independent voters appears to confirm his high profile.

Twenty-five per cent of voters said they would be most likely to vote for Mr Biden, with 15 per cent for Mr Sanders, 13 per cent for Ms Clinton, nine per cent for Mr O’Rourke and the others in low single figures.

However, 62 percent of voters said they did not believe Ms Clinton would run in 2020, four years after she lost to Donald Trump, who has confirmed he will run for re-election.

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When the former secretary of state is excluded from the poll, Mr Biden receives 28 per cent, with 21 per cent for Mr Sanders and seven per cent for Mr O’Rourke in third place.

Between 15 and 18 percent of voters said they were undecided on their preferred candidate.

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“Beto is the kind of fresh face who could shake up the Democratic race,” said Mark Penn, co-director of Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll. “He starts off by blowing past some well-known names. Biden loses support upon his entry.”