Democratic candidates are close behind Joe Biden in a new Iowa poll

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is at the top of the field in Iowa, the first state in which voting takes place in the primary race next year, according to a new poll .

But as Biden has faced heavy criticism over his stance on abortion, for which he reversed a decades-long held position, the race appears to be tightening as more Democrats climb in the polls.

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In a poll released Saturday by CNN, Des Moines Register, and Mediacom, Biden edges out the rest of the Democratic field with 24% support. Behind Biden are Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with 16%, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 15%, and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 14%.

None of the other candidates crack double digit polling, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, who garners just 7% in the new poll conducted by Selzer and Co.

While Biden leads the Democratic field in most polls, the CNN poll provides insight to what could become a problem for the campaign: lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy compared to others in the 24-person field.

Just 29% of Biden’s supporters in the poll characterized themselves as “extremely enthusiastic” about his campaign, compared to 43% for Sanders and Warren, and an average of 39% for the rest of the candidates in the race.

In a caucus system like Iowa’s, enthusiasm is a key factor for candidates looking to court supporters and earn a large chunk of delegates.

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