Democratic presidential candidates who favor a "Medicare for All" health care system are garnering more support from voters, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll released Wednesday.

The nationwide survey found that net support among Democratic voters climbed to 52 percent, from 35 percent in January.

ADVERTISEMENT

Three top-tier contenders — Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisTexas Democratic official urges Biden to visit state: 'I thought he had his own plane' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden on Trump: 'He'll leave' l GOP laywers brush off Trump's election remarks l Obama's endorsements A game theorist's advice to President Trump on filling the Supreme Court seat MORE (D-Calif.) — have proposed varying forms of Medicare for All.

Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE, who leads the field of White House hopefuls in several national polls, has panned the single-payer proposals, suggesting instead the federal government should expand the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) to include a public option.

But the rise in support for candidates who back Medicare for All hasn't been enough to knock Biden off his front-runner status in recent polling. The latest Morning Consult Tracking survey, released Monday, showed Biden with a 13 percentage point edge over his closest contender, Sanders, the author of a Medicare for All bill.

Among all voters, net support for a candidate who prefers Medicare for All over the ACA dropped to 13 percent in the August poll, compared with 35 percent in January.

Health care has emerged as one of the focal points of debate in the Democratic primary field, with moderates criticizing Medicare for All as too expensive and arguing it provides fodder to Republicans who seek to paint Democrats as socialists. Progressives contend that unaffordable health plans and rising prescription drug costs show that a change is needed.

The Morning Consult/Politico survey polled 1,987 registered voters, including 768 Democratic voters, from Aug. 23-25. The polls have a margin of error of 2 percentage points for all voters and 4 points for Democratic voters.