Bernie Sanders is now supported by nearly half of the likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire, while challenger Hillary Clinton has witnessed her popularity erode in the state.
A WMUR/CNN poll released Thursday indicates that 46 percent of Democratic voters in the state plan to vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) in the 2016 Democratic primary, a figure that is even greater than the backing Clinton enjoyed in June. The former secretary of state, on the other hand, has seen her support decline by almost one-third to 30 percent in three months.
Sanders’ support has increased by more than 10 percentage points in the time that Clinton’s has fallen.
Sanders maintains a lead over Clinton equal to that which the former first lady has over Joe Biden. Though the vice president has yet to officially launch a campaign for the White House, he is currently backed by 14 percent of Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire.
Moreover, Clinton is the one candidate New Hampshire Democrats are most likely to say they would not vote for under any circumstance. Thirteen percent of voters would not cast a ballot for the former secretary of state.
Clinton’s increasing unpopularity among Democrats can likely be attributed to the ongoing controversy surrounding her personal email system. The Democratic candidate has seen her honesty and favorable ratings, as well as her support within her own party, slide since news broke in March of her use of personal email at the State Department.
New Hampshire Democrats also rate Clinton as the single most untrustworthy candidate. Thirty-three percent of liberal voters in the state name Clinton as the least honest Democratic 2016 contender.