Warren edges ahead of Biden, Sanders slumps in pre-debate poll

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren runs off stage following her town hall campaign event at Seattle Center, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019. Warren is the first top tier candidate to hold a campaign event in Seattle. less Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren runs off stage following her town hall campaign event at Seattle Center, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019. Warren is the first top tier candidate to hold a ... more Photo: Genna Martin, Seattlepi.com Photo: Genna Martin, Seattlepi.com Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Warren edges ahead of Biden, Sanders slumps in pre-debate poll 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

A steadily rising Sen. Elizabeth Warren runs narrowly ahead of longtime front runner Joe Biden in a national poll published on the eve of Tuesday's 12-is-a-crowd debate of 2020 Democratic presidential contenders.

Warren gets support from 30% of the nation's Democrats while ex-Vice President Biden is at 27%, in the latest Quinnipiac University poll. Sen. Bernie Sanders trails with 11%, down 5% from Quinnipiac's last survey. South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg takes 8%, while California Sen. Kamala Harris has fallen to 4%.

"For Sen. Warren, the third straight time essentially tied at the top is the charm: Her candidacy clearly has staying power going into the debate," Tim Malloy of Quinnipiac Polling, said in a statement.

The Democratic race has seen a gradual boost in support for Warren, who has drawn such big crowds as the throng of 15,000 people who greeted her at the Seattle Center in August. Biden has remained steady at or just under 30%, a figure relatively unchanged despite the steady hammering of personal abuse, obscene language and false accusations he has received from President Trump.

RELATED: Warren on a roll, catches Biden in early primary/caucus states

Sanders has gradually lost support, more steeply in the wake of his heart attack. The Vermont senator has put out a flurry of tax-the-rich proposals and plans a big upcoming "Welcome Back" rally in his native New York. He will be carefully watched onstage at Tuesday's debate, being staged by CNN and the New York Times.

One other finding that has not changed much -- President Donald Trump's base.

The poll finds 41% voicing approval of the 45th President's performance, with 54% disapproving. "The President is mired at 41% but no worse for the ware after another frenzied week of impeachment talk," Mallow said.

But, 66% of those surveyed agreed that it is unacceptable for a U.S. president to ask a foreign government or leader to dig up dirt on a political opponent. By a 53-34% margin, Republicans feel it is acceptable. Ninety-five percent of Democrats said unacceptable, along with 66% of Independent voters surveyed.

Is this sufficient grounds to impeach a president and remove him from office? Forty-four percent said yes, 47% said no.

RELATED: Elizabeth Warren tells Seattle Center crowd of about 15,000: Dumping Trump is 'not enough'

Democrats seem divided on the virtues of their front runners. Thirty-two percent felt Biden would be the best leader, to 28% for Warren.

The Warren moniker, however, has been "I have a plan for that," whether it is a tax on the super-rich or a plan for protecting public lands. Democrats are responding. Forty percent agreed she has the best policy ideas, compared to 16% for Biden and 12% with Sanders.

Who is most electable? Biden remains way out front with 48%, to 21% for Warren. Warren has posed for thousands of selfies with ordinary voters, but has attracted few endorsements from officeholders outside of the Massachusetts congressional delegation.

The Quinnipiac poll was taken Oct. 11-13, interviewing 1,195 registered voters. It has a margin of error of plus/minus 3.5%.