Biden has 18-point lead on Democratic field, Sanders only other contender in double digits

Former Vice President Joe Biden leads his nearest presidential primary contender by 18 points, further solidifying his status as the crowded field’s frontrunner, according to a poll released Tuesday.

A Morning Consult poll shows Biden with the support of 38 percent of Democratic primary voters, beating out Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), his nearest competitor, who was supported by 20 percent support of the respondents.

Biden and Sanders are the only two candidates who had support in the double-digits. They are followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) with 9 percent, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Kamala Harris(D-Calif.) with 7 percent and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) with 4 percent.

The former vice president’s support extends to 42 percent over the primary field when narrowing the survey to primary voters in early states, which Morning Consult said included Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Nevada. Sanders remains at 20 percent among such voters.