‘Mayor Pete’ Buttigieg surges to number one spot in Iowa poll, ahead of Democratic rivals Biden, Warren, and Sanders
- Poll suggests a disruption in the Democratic primary contest in the first voting state
- Warren, Biden and Sanders were in a statistical tie for second place
Buttigieg’s support climbed to 25 per cent, a 16-point increase since the previous survey in September, CNN reported.
It said there was a close three-way battle for second with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren at 16 per cent, and former vice-president Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders each at 15 per cent.
Since September, Warren dropped six percentage points and Biden slipped five points, while Sanders gained four points, CNN said.
Buttigieg, the 37-year-old gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, told the network the news was encouraging and his campaign felt growing momentum in the farm state, but there was “still a lot of work to do” in increasing his name recognition there.
“That’s extremely encouraging, obviously,” Buttigieg said.