Sanders narrows gap with Clinton in CNN poll

Bernie Sanders is closing the gap with front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a CNN poll released Wednesday.

The poll conducted Aug. 13-16 has Sanders within 18 percentage points of the former secretary of state in a race for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. This is the narrowest margin of any poll to date.

An overall look at Sanders' gains with likely Democratic primary voters have also outpaced Howard Dean's polling performance in the 2004 race.

Until Sanders kicked off his campaign, Dean, a former Vermont governor, was the state's most recent politician to make a serious bid for the U.S. presidency.

After a weak showing Jan. 19, 2004, at the Iowa caucus, Dean floundered in subsequent primaries and eventually lost the nomination to Secretary of State John Kerry.

Though Sanders launched his campaign a month earlier in the primary season than Dean's kickoff 12 years ago, support for the independent Vermont senator has risen faster than it did for Dean.

Sanders' latest polling numbers rival Dean's peak support in December 2003. Sanders garnered 30 percent of the vote among likely Democratic primary-goers in a Fox News poll conducted Aug. 11-13.

Hover your cursor over the dots (each representing a poll or survey) to see the details.

The graphic will be updated as polls are released.

This information was gathered and designed for the Burlington Free Press.

Contact Emilie Stigliani at 660-1897 or estigliani@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EmilieStigliani.