AP Photo Clinton's lead drops further as interest in Biden grows

Hillary Clinton's lead among Democrats nationwide is continuing to recede, according to the latest nationwide Monmouth University poll released Tuesday morning.

But unlike in past months, it's not just independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the former secretary of state's rear-view mirror. This time, Vice President Joe Biden, who has been entertaining the possibility of a run, is effectively tied with Sanders in second place among Democrats nationwide.


In the latest Monmouth survey, Clinton drew 42 percent to Biden's 22 percent. Sanders picked up 20 percent, while 10 percent were undecided and all other candidates earned 1 percent or less. In last month's Monmouth poll, Clinton picked up 52 percent, compared with 16 percent for Sanders and 12 percent for Biden.

The results come days after NBC News/Marist polls showed Sanders with a double-digit lead in New Hampshire (with Biden not included as a choice) and encroaching upon Clinton's advantage in Iowa.

In Tuesday's poll, Biden drew the largest net positive rating among Democratic voters and leaners, with 71 percent seeing the veep in a favorable light and just 9 percent unfavorable. Clinton also drew 71 percent favorability, though a slightly higher share of 17 percent said they saw her unfavorably. Meanwhile, 41 percent to 14 percent said they have a positive opinion of Sanders, though 45 percent said they had no opinion of him.

In addition to the 22 percent who said they would vote for Biden in their state's Democratic primary, another 7 percent said they would support the vice president if he announced. An additional 34 percent said it would be somewhat likely for them to throw their support behind Biden.

Asked whether they would be more likely to support Biden if he picked Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as his running mate, 66 percent said it would not affect their decision, while 23 percent said it would make them more likely to vote for him and 7 percent said it would make them less likely.

The poll was conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 2, via landlines and cellphones, surveying 339 registered Democratic voters and those who lean Democratic. The margin of error is plus or minus 5.3 percentage points.

