Politics / Election 2020 Surprise Candidates Surge in Latest Dem Polling In South Carolina and the nation, 2 candidates are rising By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff Posted Jun 16, 2019 3:30 PM CDT Copied Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to local residents at Clinton Community College, Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in Clinton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) A poll out of South Carolina reflects what's going on nationally: Joe Biden's numbers are dipping while Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg are gaining ground—but not enough to take his place, the Post and Courier reports. Biden still holds a 20-point lead in the upcoming South Carolina primary, but his support has fallen from 46% in May to 37% now, while Warren has risen from 8% to 17% and Buttigieg from 8% to 11%, pushing Sens. Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris from the top three. Composites by Real Clear Politics show similar national trends over the past month. The South Carolina Democratic presidential primary will be held Feb. 29. (More Election 2020 stories.) Report an error