As Vice President Joe Biden reportedly nears a decision on whether to run for president, Democratic voters may be deciding for him.
According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted in the days following the first Democratic debate, 38 percent of Democratic voters said that Biden should not enter the already crowded race, whereas only 30 percent encouraged the vice president to join the field along with the five announced candidates.
Hillary Clinton continues to lead the field with 49 percent of the vote, followed by Bernie Sanders with 29 percent and Biden in third at 15 percent. If Biden were to not enter the race, Clinton would receive a considerable bump in the polls, jumping more than 20 points ahead of Sanders, leading 58-33.
Clinton is the only candidate to receive a boost following the debate, as her numbers are 10 points higher than they were in September. As Biden mulls a run at the Democratic nomination, he would have to win over many of Clinton’s supporters and donors.
While Biden doesn’t have Clinton’s ground game or support in the polls, some donors might still be available. Only 10 percent of Barack Obama’s 2012 bundlers have already signed on to Clinton’s campaign while the rest remain undeclared.
