Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has impressive leads over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, according to a new
CBS News poll.
"Very liberal Democrats" are propelling the self-described democratic socialist Sanders in both states, CBS News Elections Director Anthony Salvanto said Sunday on
"Face the Nation." He also is doing well with independents.
Sanders is up 10 points on Clinton, who has been the front-runner since announcing her candidacy in April. Sanders has 43 percent support in Iowa to Clinton's 33 percent. Vice President Joe Biden, who hasn't announced whether he will run, is at 10 percent.
In New Hampshire, Sanders leads Clinton by a whopping 52 percent to 30 percent. Biden registers 9 percent in New Hampshire. Sanders has been leading Clinton in his neighboring New England state for weeks.
But in more conservative South Carolina, Clinton still holds the advantage. Clinton has 46 percent support there to Sanders' 23 percent and Biden's 22 percent.
Sanders is being buoyed by an "enthusiam gap," Salvanto said.
Sixty-three percent of Sanders' supporters in Iowa say they are enthusiastic about backing him, while only 49 percent of Clinton's supporters are. In New Hampshire it's 78 percent enthusiasm for Sanders to a mere 39 percent for Clinton.
Most Democrats don't care about Clinton's use of a private email server, the poll found. Neither her supporters, nor Sanders' supporters rated it as likely to influence their votes.