Former Vice President Joe Biden leads Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in a primary showdown in Kansas, although the winner could face an uphill fight in November, new polling shows.
A poll done last week of 550 likely Democratic voters showed Biden with support from 59% of those surveyed, compared to 35% for Sanders. The Democratic primary is May 2.
A general election poll, however, showed both candidates struggling against President Donald Trump.
In the primary poll, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard trailed the field with 3%. Four percent of those surveyed were unsure.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is already on the ballot in Kansas, but she has ended her campaign.
The primary election poll revealed that Kansas Democrats had mostly favorable views of Biden and Sanders, although it varied among different age brackets.
Sixty-eight percent had a favorable view of Biden, compared to 19% that saw him unfavorably.
Sanders, meanwhile, was seen favorably by 61% of those surveyed, compared to 24% who saw him unfavorably.
Sanders enjoyed good numbers among younger voters, with 59% of those who said they would cast a ballot for him falling within the 18-to-45 age bracket.
Sanders’ support fell off with older Kansans. He received 29% from voters 46 to 65 and 12% among voters older than 65.
Biden only drew support from 33% of the 18-to-45 bracket but drew support from 67% of voters ages 46 to 65. He also got support from 81% of voters older than 65.
The poll was done March 10 and 11 by Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, North Carolina. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2%.
The firm also polled 1,567 Kansas voters asking them about the general election. It had a margin of error of 2.5%.
The general election poll showed President Trump to be popular in Kansas, with 52% of voters saying they viewed him favorably. Forty-four percent viewed him unfavorably. Four percent didn’t know.
The poll showed Trump ahead of Biden and Sanders in Kansas by the same margin: 52% to 40%.
Fifty-one percent of Kansas voters viewed Biden unfavorably, compared to 34% favorably.
Sanders was seen unfavorably by 59% of Kansas voters, compared 28% who saw him favorably.
