Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) has expanded a slight lead over Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin according to polling released just one day before the state’s primary.
Sanders currently leads Clinton by 8 points among likely Democratic primary voters in Wisconsin, according to a poll conducted by the Emerson College Polling Society between March 30 and April 3.
The survey, which shows Sanders in the lead with 51 percent, is the first poll on record showing Sanders with a majority of support in Wisconsin, according to a history of polls provided by Real Clear Politics. While other surveys have shown Sanders with a slight edge over Clinton in recent days, this is also the first indicating that he has an 8-point lead over the former secretary of state.
Clinton’s support among Wisconsin voters has eroded in the weeks leading up to the crucial primary. An identical Emerson College poll conducted about 10 days earlier showed Clinton in the lead by 6 points with 50 percent support among likely primary voters.
Ninety-six delegates are at stake in the Democratic primary in Wisconsin Tuesday.
Sanders’ support is most extreme among likely voters ages 18 to 34; the Vermont senator leads Clinton by more than a 3-to-1 margin among these young voters. Clinton, in contrast, leads Sanders among voters over the age of 55.
The self-described socialist has also made progress among female voters in Wisconsin, currently trailing Clinton by 3 points among the demographic. In about two weeks, Sanders has increased his support among female Democratic primary voters from 36 percent to 45 percent, a nearly 10-point jump. Clinton’s 48 percent support among the demographic has held steady.
The survey also shows that Sanders’ favorability rating is 13 points higher than Clinton’s in the state. In Wisconsin, three in 10 Democratic voters do not view Clinton favorably.
In the face of her declining poll numbers in Wisconsin, Clinton is focusing her attention on the primary contest in her home state of New York later this month. Clinton is expected to attend events in New York City and Albany on Monday.
The Clinton and Sanders campaigns have sparred in recent days over the possibility of an additional Democratic debate ahead of the April 19 primary in New York.