Hillary Clinton Holds Strong Lead In New Polls

One day ahead of the first Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton is holding a strong lead in new polls out of South Carolina and Nevada. CNN reports:

Clinton has the support of 50% of those who say they are likely to attend the Democratic caucus scheduled for February 20 in Nevada — which plays host to the first debate among the declared Democratic candidates on Tuesday and is the first state to elect delegates after Iowa and New Hampshire. Sanders follows at 34%, then Vice President Joe Biden at 12%, with the rest of the field garnering less than 1% support. Among those who say they are likely to vote in South Carolina’s primary, set for one week after Nevada’s caucuses, Clinton holds a larger edge, 49% to Biden’s 24%, with Sanders at 18% and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley at 3%. Should Biden decide to sit out the race for the presidency, Clinton’s lead grows in both states. In South Carolina, a Biden-free race currently stands at 70% Clinton to 20% Sanders with O’Malley holding at 3%, and in Nevada, Clinton gains 8 points to 58%, while Sanders picks up just 2 points and would stand at 36%.

In the South Carolina poll only 7% of blacks are backing Sanders.