Feb. 19: Biden up by 2 on Sanders as close race emerges in South Carolina

Election 2020 graphic with outline of state imposed on background image of capital building

UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion conducted a survey Feb. 12-18, 2020 of 400 South Carolina Democratic Primary likely voters. 

Topline (pdf) 

Highlights (pdf)

Methodology (pdf)

Press Release

Key Findings

  • In a new poll in South Carolina, former Vice President Joe Biden, coming off disappointing 4th and 5th place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire still sits atop the race for delegates in South Carolina at 23%.  Closely trailing Biden by only 2 points is Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
  • Behind the frontrunners are businessman and activist Tom Steyer polling at 13%, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 11%, and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren at 11%. 
  • Biden is bolstered by African-American voters, who support him over Sanders by 23 points, 43% to 20%. Among white voters, however, Sanders leads with 23% of the vote, Buttigieg is at 16%, Klobuchar 15%, Warren 14% and Biden is at 11%.