Hillary Clinton may still hold a big lead in New Hampshire, but it is next-door-neighbor Sen. Bernie Sanders that makes the biggest jump in a WMUR Granite State Poll out Wednesday.
Sanders, an independent from Vermont, drew support from 13% of likely Democratic primary voters, according to the poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center before Sanders’ announced his candidacy for president last month. The senator’s support doubled from a February poll by the same group that found 6% of Democratic primary voters supported the independent.
Clinton is still the overwhelming favorite in the state with 51% support. And despite repeatedly saying she isn’t running for president, Sen. Elizabeth Warren garnered 20% support from those polled.
Sanders’ campaign aides have confidently said that their candidate can play in all early nominating states, but are wide-eyed about the fact that because of his politics and geographical connection Sanders’ best state will likely be New Hampshire.
After announcing his candidacy last week, Sanders visited New Hampshire for a series of events over the weekend. The visit was Sanders’ 10th trip to New Hampshire since 2014.
Despite his uptick in New Hampshire support, Sanders is still a dark horse candidate. In an April poll by CNN, Sanders garnered 5% support from Democrats and independents who lean Democratic. Clinton, by comparison, won 69% of the same group.
After his announcement, however, Sanders won a significant fundraising boost when his nascent campaign announced that they raised more than $1.5 million in its first 24 hours. That number outpaced three Republican presidential hopefuls, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.