A new poll confirms that Bernie Sanders is currently leading Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the critical early primary state of New Hampshire.
The Monmouth University poll shows Sanders ahead of Clinton by 7 points at 43% to Clinton’s 36%. Vice President Joe Biden, who is still considering a bid, has the support of 13% of New Hampshire Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. When Biden is removed from the race, Sanders still leads Clinton by 7 points.
RELATED: Bernie Sanders’ colleagues aren’t feeling ‘The Bern’
And Sanders has even eked ahead of Clinton among women voters, 42% to 38%. “Sanders has certainly cut into Clinton’s core constituencies, but his ultimate success may ride on how many new voters he can get to the polls,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Clinton leads among registered Democrats, but Sanders has a wider advantage among independents and new voters.
The Monmouth poll comes on the heels of several other surveys showing similar results. On Monday, a Washington Post/ABC News survey found Clinton’s support among women had dropped 29 percentage points since July.
A recent NBC News/Marist poll of New Hampshire democrats found Sanders was ahead of Clinton by 9 points.
Asked about the polls suggesting weakening support among women, Clinton told reporters while campaigning in Iowa Monday that she’s not concerned. “I feel very confident about where we are in the campaign and very committed to doing everything I can to make my case as effectively as possible to women and men, and I think that will be successful,” Clinton said.
Alex Seitz-Wald