Hillary Clinton speaking in Des Moines. (file photo)
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is back on top of a poll of likely Iowa Caucus participants. Peter Brown is assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll showing Clinton with the support of 51 percent of the Iowa Democrats surveyed, compared to 40 percent for Bernie Sanders.
“Two months ago, when Quinnipiac last polled likely Democratic caucus goers, Clinton and Sanders were in an absolute dead heat for first place here in Iowa,” Brown said. The poll released on September 10 had Sanders at 41 percent and Clinton at 40 percent. The Democratic candidates for president met for their first debate on October 13.
“Mrs. Clinton has done very well nationally recently. She had what was credited to be a very strong debate performance. That certainly has helped,” Brown said. The survey of Iowa Democrats released today was conducted between October 14-20, before Clinton’s appearance at a congressional hearing over her response to the Benghazi attacks when she served as Secretary of State.
Bernie Sanders (file photo)
“Obviously, she came into this campaign as the overwhelming favorite for the Democratic nomination and then went through a series of problems — many having to do with her email account and her family’s own foundation and the finances thereof — but, things seem to be getting better for Secretary Clinton,” Brown said. There is a wide gender gap among Democrats in Iowa, according to Brown, as the poll shows Sanders lead Clinton among men 51-to-39 percent.
“But, Clinton dwarfs his showing among women. She has a 26-point edge among female caucus goers,” Brown said. “That’s a huge number and that really feeds the margin and puts her back in front.” Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, the only other Democrat still in the race, received just 4 percent support of Iowa likely Democratic Caucus participants in today’s poll. A Quinnipiac Poll released Thursday showed Ben Carson is leading Donald Trump in the Republican presidential race in Iowa, by a margin of 28-to-20 percent.