Sanders Runs Down Clinton in New York Prior to Crucial Primary

In the run up to the crucial New York primary Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders seems to be close on rival Hillary Clinton’s heels, as the latest poll by Monmouth University indicates that the gap between the two candidates continues to narrow.

In polling, former New York Senator Clinton beat her rival in her home state, gaining 51 percent of voters against Sanders 39, according to Monday’s data.

Some nine percent of voters claimed they had no specific preferences before the caucus.

The double-digit advantage of the former Secretary of State looks shaky considering the course of race. While the gap between the two stands at 12 percent as of Monday, an Emerson poll showed it was 18 percent on Friday, and 48 percent a month ago.

Sanders has taken a 30 percent bite of Clinton’s lead in New York since the middle of March. At the time he had 22 percent of New Yorkers behind him, and Clinton was supported by 71 percent of voters.

The fresh poll shows white voters for the contenders to be neck-and-neck, as Clinton grabs 48 percent against 46 percent taken by Sanders. When it comes to non-white segments of population, Clinton is an undisputed leader with 62 points against Sanders 22.

“I'm sure the Clinton camp was hoping for a much bigger lead in her adopted home state, but any such advantage appears to be limited against Sanders," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, in a memo accompanying the poll results.

Before the New York primary Bernie Sanders won eight caucuses in a row, gaining his last victory in Wyoming, beating Clinton 56 to 43.8 percent.

“[W]e are closing very fast and now that Wyoming is behind us, we are here in New York state. I have been pleased to sense a great deal of momentum,” Sanders said at a press conference in the New York City borough of Queens. “No question in my mind, we have the momentum."