Mayor Pete Surges in Iowa Polls, Nipping at Biden & Warren’s Heels

Former Vice President Joe Biden, Massuchusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg on stage during the Democratic Presidential Debate

Pete Buttigieg has jumped 7 percentage points since a USA Today poll in June, Elizabeth Warren killed it and Joe Biden did worse than expected in last week’s debate.

Mayor Pete, who was initially seen as a long-shot, has surged within striking distance of Biden and Warren in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.

The poll, taken among 500 likely Democratic caucusgoers on Wednesday through Friday says,

Biden 18%
Warren 17%
Buttigieg 13%

In June Biden led Warren by double digits and Buttigieg trailed at a distant 6%. California Sen. Kamala Harris, who was then in second place after a strong showing in the first Democratic debate, has plummeted 13 percentage points and is now in a three-way tie for sixth. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders earned 9% support, the same number as in the June poll.

(Photo; screen grab; via USA Today)