Poll Bernie Sanders Holds Strong Lead Over Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire
Bernie Sanders holds a wide lead over Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, according to a new poll that shows the Vermont Senator and Vice President Joe Biden chipping away at Clinton's base in the Granite State. Sanders is supported by a full 46 of New Hampshire Democratic primary voters as the favorite to win the nomination, a CNN/WMUR poll released Thursday shows, while Clinton lags 16 points behind him with support from 30 of Democrats. The same poll showed Clinton ahead with 43 in June and Sanders lagging at 35. Vice President Joe Biden is supported by 14 of New Hampshire Democrats, compared with 8 in June. Sanders pulled ahead of Clinton in the New Hampshire polls in early August as he widened his name recognition among Granite State voters. He has dramatically increased his staff in the state, from 4 in early August to nearly 50 a month later. Sanders' campaign is counting on grassroots support from volunteers to win in New Hampshire and other contests. Nationwide, more than 180,000 people have signed up to volunteer for his campaign. "She does not have 100,000 people, paid or otherwise," campaign manager Jeff Weaver told TIME earlier this month, comparing Sanders' volunteer efforts to Clinton. "We have a bigger organization than she does. She may have more people on the payroll, but that's not to say she has a bigger organization.", Clinton leads Sanders in national polls and has earned key endorsements from New Hampshire politicians, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Gov. Maggie Hassan, who called Clinton "the only candidate with comprehensive and practical plans" to lead the country. Clinton this week announced a series of proposals to reduce prescription drug costs and rein in healthcare spending. The CNN/WMUR poll has a margin of error of 5.5.