Former Vice President Joe Biden now has a commanding lead in the Democratic primary; leaving Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris trailing him.
According to a newly released Fox News Poll, Biden has expanded his lead over his 2020 primary challengers with 33% of likely Democratic voters now supporting him. (RELATED: Biden On Kamala Harris: ‘I Thought We Were Friends’)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JUNE 27: Sen. Kamala Harris (R) (D-CA) and former Vice President Joe Biden (L) speak as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) looks on during the second night of the first Democratic presidential debate on June 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The former vice president’s lead more than doubles that of any his second, third, and fourth place challengers. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders follows behind Biden at 15%, next is Elizabeth Warren at 12%, and Kamala Harris behind her with 10%. lead of 15%.
Lower tier candidates have between 2-5% of the vote:
- Pete Buttigieg – 5%
- Amy Klobuchar – 3%
- Andrew Yang – 3%
- Cory Booker – 2%
- John Hickenlooper – 2%
- Beto O’Rourke – 2%
The candidates that were not listed all received one percent of the vote or less.
On Wednesday, Joe Biden warned he planned to take a more aggressive tone at the next upcoming debate.
“I’m not going to be as polite this time,” Biden said speaking at an NAACP event in Los Angeles. Biden was referring to California Democratic candidate Kamala Harris who in the second debate went after the former Vice President for his past opposition to federally mandated school busing.
Biden also referenced former President Obama in order to boost his credibility saying, “I doubt [President Barack Obama] would’ve picked me if these accusations about my being wrong on civil rights were correct.”
Joe Biden speaks at @NAACP forum: “I doubt [President Barack Obama] would’ve picked me if these accusations about my being wrong on civil rights were correct.” https://t.co/gxWfXI38ik pic.twitter.com/CCqIQKoUao
— The Hill (@thehill) July 24, 2019
During a recent NAACP forum in Detroit, Cory Booker attributed the mass incarceration of black Americans to Biden’s past support of Clinton-era tough-on-crime legislation that passed in 1994.
“For a guy that helped to be an architect of mass incarceration, this is an inadequate solution to what is a raging crisis in our country,” said Booker.
Cory Booker on Joe Biden: “Now he’s unrolled this, unveiled his crime bill — for a guy who helped to be an architect of mass incarceration, this in an inadequate solution to what is a raging crisis in our country.” https://t.co/GAX2Tm2XYu pic.twitter.com/s2XfuLbb9u
— The Hill (@thehill) July 25, 2019
Biden responded to the all criticisms from his Democratic opponents by saying, “If they want to argue about the past, I can do that. I got a past I’m proud of. They got a past that’s not quite so good.”