Poll: Sanders leads in New Hampshire, Clinton still more electable
Less than three weeks from the first cast ballots of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, Bernie Sanders is leading Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton in the state, according to a new poll.
A Suffolk University survey shows the Vermont senator with a 9-point advantage over Clinton, with 50 percent to 41 percent among likely Democratic primary voters. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley clocks in at 2 percent of support. Six percent of likely primary participants remain undecided.
Despite Sanders' position at the top of the polls, the survey shows voters believe Clinton still has the best chance at defeating the Republican nominee in a general election match-up. Sixty percent of likely voters think the former secretary of state would win come November, compared to 27 percent for Sanders.
Likely Granite State Democrats also find Clinton's positions on gun control more appealing than Sander's positions, 44 percent to 30 percent. It's an issue Clinton has recently used in attacks against her opponent, painting Sanders with an irresponsible record on firearm legislation while in Congress.
Still, the former secretary faces trust issues among likely New Hampshire Democratic voters. Poll respondents chose Sanders as the most trustworthy candidate by a 15-point margin, 51 percent to Clinton's 36.
Suffolk University surveyed 500 likely New Hampshire Democratic primary voters was from Jan. 19-21, 2016. The margin of error is 4.4 percentage points.