Campaign 2020 April 30, 2019

CNN Poll: Biden Surges To Commanding Lead

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 29: Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign rally at Teamsters Local 249 Union Hall April 29, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Biden began his first full week of campaigning for president by speaking on how to rebuild America's middle class. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

We are a long, long way from the first primary and caucus, but new polling from CNN is showing interesting trends.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has opened up an 24 point lead over his nearest rival in the race for the Democratic nomination. That’s not really surprising given several Democrats saw big bumps after they announced. Biden’s was at 28% last month, so his post announcement bump was a solid 11 points.

New 2020 @CNN poll just out:

Biden 39%
Sanders 15%
Warren 8%
Buttigieg 7%
O’Rourke 6%
Harris 5%
Booker 2%
Gabbard 2%
Klobuchar 2%
Castro 1%
Gillibrand 1%
Inslee 1%
Swalwell 1%
Williamson 1%
Yang 1%
de Blasio <1%
Ryan <1%
Bennet 0%
Delaney 0%
Hickenlooper 0%
Messam 0%
Moulton 0%
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 30, 2019

Beyond the horserace, here are some interesting takeaways. More than half of those polled would be willing to change their mind, so Biden’s support is far from rock-solid. Of those candidates who voters want to know more about, Kamala Harris has the lead.

As for the single issue Democratic voters care about most, the ability to beat Donald Trump is far and away #1.

Lots of focus on Biden getting a big boost in post-announcement polling. But what's also notable is how @ewarren is rising. Top three in the latest CNN poll are Biden, Sanders, and Warren.
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) April 30, 2019

The poll shows some softening of the support South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

This poll is a warning sign for Buttigieg. Yes, he's up from our last poll, but he's actually slightly lower from Monmouth earlier this month. He's getting basically no support from moderates, those making less than 50k or nonwhites. https://t.co/0XSilpjOTl
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) April 30, 2019

As for the dominant issues Democrats care about? Climate change and “medicare for all” lead the list.

.@CNN poll out today. 82% of Dem voters say it's very important for Pres candidate to talk about aggressive climate action.

If politicians want to be taken seriously on it, they've got to back the #GreenNewDeal + sign #NoFossilFuelMoney pledge. pic.twitter.com/VRWWCGs7oK
— Sunrise Movement ? (@sunrisemvmt) April 30, 2019