May 18, 2019

2020 election polls: Biden, Sanders battle for first primary votes

Joe Biden. Photo: Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald/Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden has maintained a double-digit lead against his 2020 Democratic competitors, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) coming in 2nd place — even in some states Sanders managed to secure during the 2016 Democratic primaries.

The big picture: Some observers are drawing parallels between Biden's current campaign and Hillary Clinton's 2016 run, including courting the same donors and addressing the economic woes of middle class Americans, reports the New York Times. However, Biden is polling higher in Iowa and New Hampshire — both states Sanders won in 2016 against Clinton, per FiveThirtyEight.

By the numbers:

  • Iowa: Biden is currently polling at 35%; Sanders polling at 14%. In 2016, Sanders took Iowa with 49.8% of the votes.
  • New Hampshire: Biden is currently polling at 36% with Sanders polling at 18%. In 2016, Sanders took New Hampshire with 60.2% of the votes.
  • Nevada: Biden is currently polling at 29% with Sanders polling at 24%. In 2016, Sanders took 47.3% of the votes.
  • South Carolina: Biden is currently polling at 46% with Sanders polling at 15%. In 2016; Sanders took 26% of the votes.

National polls:

  • Quinnipiac: Biden (38), Warren (12), Sanders (11), Buttigieg (10), Harris (8), O'Rourke (5) and no other candidate gets above 2%.
  • RealClearPolitics: Biden (39), Sanders (16), Warren (8), Harris (7), Buttigieg (6), O'Rourke (4) and the other candidates are 2% or less.

Context: Many older black voters support Biden after serving as President Obama's vice president, reports the New York Times. However, Biden struggles to connect with younger voters the same way Sanders does, per the Post and Courier.

Sanders' biggest hurdle is in South Carolina where he is trying to court black voters, who he struggled to appeal to in 2016. Black voters make up 60% of the Democratic voting bloc in South Carolina. He released an education plan that focuses on reducing racial and economic segregation as part of a renewed effort to appeal to black voters.

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World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

Japan's economy minister outlined plans on Monday to end the nationwide state of emergency as the number of new novel coronavirus cases continues to decline to less than 50 a day, per Bloomberg. Japan has reported 16,550 cases and 820 deaths.

By the numbers: Over 5.4 million people have tested positive for the virus as of Monday, and more than 2.1 million have recovered. The U.S. has reported the most cases in the world (over 1.6 million from 13.7 million tests). The U.K. is reporting over 36,800 deaths from the coronavirus — the most fatalities outside the U.S.

Go deeper (2 min. read)ArrowUpdated 1 hour ago - Health

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of midnight ET: 5,401,701 — Total deaths: 345,060 — Total recoveries — 2,149,407 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of midnight ET: 1,643,238 — Total deaths: 97,720 — Total recoveries: 366,736 — Total tested: 14,163,195 — Map.
  3. World: White House announces travel restrictions on Brazil, coronavirus hotspot in Southern Hemisphere — Over 100 coronavirus cases in Germany tied to single day of church services — Boris Johnson backs top aide amid reports that he broke U.K. lockdown while exhibiting symptoms.
  4. Public health: Officials are urging Americans to wear masks headed into Memorial Day weekend — Report finds "little evidence" coronavirus under control in most states — Hurricanes, wildfires, the flu could strain COVID-19 response
  5. Economy: White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett says it's possible the unemployment rate could still be in double digits by November's election — Public employees brace for layoffs.
  6. Federal government: Trump attacks a Columbia University study that suggests earlier lockdown could have saved 36,000 American lives.
  7. What should I do? Hydroxychloroquine questions answered — Traveling, asthma, dishes, disinfectants and being contagious — Masks, lending books and self-isolating — Exercise, laundry, what counts as soap — Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — How to minimize your risk.
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it, the right mask to wear.

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Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios. This graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14.

President Trump doubled down on his push to reopen schools, tweeting late Sunday: "Schools in our country should be opened ASAP."

Zoom in: Trump pushed back on NIAD Director Anthony Fauci cautioning against the move earlier this month, calling his concerns "not an acceptable answer."

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