Nov 1, 2019

Joe Biden slumps in Iowa poll as Pete Buttigieg surges

Fadel Allassan

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg made gains in Iowa, as former Vice President Joe Biden slipped in a New York Times/Siena College poll of voters likely to attend the state's caucuses. Sen. Elizabeth Warren leads the deadlocked pack, with Sen. Bernie Sanders coming in next.

Why it matters: "Buttigieg is aiming to peel away support from Mr. Biden by offering himself as the viable moderate alternative" to Warren and Sanders, the New York Times wrote last week. That effort appears to be working.

  • Buttigieg has also put a strong focus on Iowa, opening 20 field offices and hiring nearly 100 staff members statewide.

By the numbers:

  • Warren: 22%
  • Sanders: 19%
  • Buttigieg: 18%
  • Biden: 17%
  • Klobuchar: 4%
  • Harris: 3%
  • Yang: 3%

Of note: The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.7 percentage points, meaning Warren, Sanders, Buttigieg and Biden are statistically tied for for the top spot.

Go deeper: The problem with 2020 presidential polls

Go deeper

Neal Rothschild

Behind Pete Buttigieg's Iowa rise

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speaks to voters during a campaign rally this month in Waverly, Iowa. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Rather than riding a swell of media attention or a viral moment, Pete Buttigieg has ascended to the top of Iowa's Democratic presidential primary polling by channeling a substantial fundraising haul into TV ads and a robust presence inside the state.

Why it matters: With $2.3m spent so far on Iowa TV ads, more than 100 staff on the ground and 20 field offices, Buttigieg's investment reflects his campaign's bet that Iowa's Feb. 3 caucus is key to his chances as an underdog candidate from the Midwest.

Go deeperArrowNov 20, 2019
Jacob Knutson

Pete Buttigieg surges to the top of new Iowa poll

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A Monmouth University poll released Tuesday has Pete Buttigieg leading the Democratic presidential race in Iowa for the first time.

The big picture: Since Monmouth's last Iowa poll in August, Buttigieg gained 14 points, surging ahead of the race's group of longtime frontrunners, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

Go deeperArrowNov 12, 2019
Axios

Trump campaign attacks Buttigieg during Democratic debate

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and "Black Voices for Trump" sent coordinated mass emails during the Democratic debate Wednesday attacking Mayor Pete Buttigieg for his record on race and policing in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana.

Why it matters: As Axios' Jonathan Swan reported on Sunday, top Republicans are taking Buttigieg seriously as a potential general election candidate after his breakout poll in Iowa and his rise in New Hampshire. Several top Trump advisers have raised concerns that Buttigieg is more talented than Joe Biden and that he will be harder to brand as a leftist radical than Sens. Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders.

Go deeper:

Keep ReadingArrowNov 21, 2019