Biden Leads Iowa Poll, the Key Indicator for US Democratic Presidential Primary

Poll Results Ahead of Iowa Caucus
Buttigieg and Sanders on the Rise, Warren Weakening
Intense Candidate Clash Heats Up Before First Primary

Democratic presidential primary candidates in the United States are marching on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the 20th. From left to right: former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Bernie Sanders.
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] With the Iowa Caucus, which marks the beginning of the U.S. Democratic presidential primary, just two weeks away, former Vice President Joe Biden is maintaining his lead in local polls.

According to U.S. media including Politico, in an Iowa regional poll released on the 20th (local time), former Vice President Biden received 24% support. Following Biden were Senator Elizabeth Warren with 18%, Indiana South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 16%, and Senator Bernie Sanders with 14%. Although Biden maintained first place, his support dropped by 1 percentage point compared to a poll conducted in September last year.

It is notable that Buttigieg, previously considered a minor candidate, is polling higher than Senator Sanders. Buttigieg's rapid rise in the Iowa Caucus has led to expectations of unexpected results.

Politico noted that despite the recent controversy between Senator Warren and Senator Sanders over female presidential candidates, Sanders' support has increased while Warren's has faltered. Warren's support dropped by 5 percentage points compared to the September poll last year. While Warren is struggling, Mayor Buttigieg is mounting a strong challenge. Although Warren was selected as the Democratic presidential candidate supported by The New York Times (NYT), she still lags behind former Vice President Biden's momentum.

The Iowa Caucus is regarded as a bellwether for the U.S. presidential primary. Winning the first contest greatly increases the chances of winning the overall primary and solidifying one's position as a challenger to President Donald Trump. For this reason, the candidates are putting everything on the line to win this caucus. Following Iowa, primaries will continue in New Hampshire (February 11), Nevada (February 22), and South Carolina (February 29).

This poll did not include former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has decided to forgo early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire and focus on the 'Super Tuesday' contests in early March.

As the primaries approach, fierce battles among candidates continue. According to The Washington Post (WP), Senator Sanders' camp released footage claiming that former Vice President Biden proposed cutting Social Security benefits in the past, sparking a dispute over its authenticity. Senator Warren also admitted to hearing Sanders say that women cannot become president, which further fueled the controversy.