CNN Poll: Hillary Gains on Sanders — If Biden Stays Out of Race

Hillary Clinton's lead in the Democratic presidential primary race has grown and that lead is likely to continue growing with one big condition – Vice President Joe Biden stays out of the race.

That’s the latest takeaway from a new CNN/ORC poll.

Clinton is backed by 42 percent of Democratic primary voters nationally, compared to 24 percent for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 22 percent for Biden and 1 percent for former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, the poll shows.

But if Biden gets in the race, he would take all of his support from Hillary, CNN reports. Without Biden in the race, Clinton's numbers climb by 15 percentage points, while Sanders' increase by only 4 points. That gives Clinton a nearly 2-to-1 lead at 57 percent to 28 percent, with O'Malley moving up to 2 percent.

Biden is still mulling a potential bid.

The poll surveyed 392 Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party from September 17-19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 points.