A quarter of respondents to a Bloomberg poll conducted last week said their top pick for president was Biden, while Clinton was backed by 33% and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders by 24%.
Three more Democratic candidates, including former Virginia Senator Jim Webb, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley and former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee, were the top pick of less than 3% of people polled.
Earlier in the summer, pollsters believed that Clinton would not only sweep her Democratic challengers but the entire election. In late June, she was polling 8% above her closest competitor, who at the time was Republican former Florida governor Jeb Bush.
Since then, Sanders has also gained in polls in the key early primary states. September polls found Sanders led Clinton by nine points in New Hampshire, and was one ahead in Iowa.
