Booker’s strong debate performance shows no signs of moving voters

Sen. Cory Booker’s performance in last week’s second Democratic presidential primary debate drew praise in the media and played well with an Iowa focus group.

But so far, post-debate polls have not shown any significant movement for the New Jersey Democrat, either nationally or in one early primary state.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday afternoon put Booker’s support nationally among Democratic primary voters at 2 percent, a statistically insignificant 1 percent increase from a pre-debate Quinnipiac poll released in late July.

At the same time, Booker’s criticisms of former Vice President Joe Biden for boasting of how he was able to work with segregationist senators been detrimental to the former vice president. Biden remains the front-runner for the nomination with 32 percent support, according to the latest Quinnipiac poll, down just 2 points from late July.

Meanwhile, the poll shows Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren making some headway with Democratic voters. Her support has increased from 15 percent in late July to 21 percent support in the new poll.

"Sen. Elizabeth Warren's policy heavy presentation and former Vice President Joseph Biden's ability to handle the heat from all corners put them on top," Quinnipiac Assistant Poll Director Tim Malloy said in a press release that accompanied the results. "Sen. Kamala Harris, whose 20 percent score put her neck-and-neck with Biden in a Quinnipiac University poll July 2 after the first debate, is now a distant fourth with 7 percent.”

Despite Booker’s lack of support, 7 percent of those surveyed said he did the best job in the second debate. But 28 percent said that about Warren, while 15 percent said that for Biden, and 8 percent each said that for Sen. Bernie Sanders and Harris.

The Quinnipiac poll of 807 registered Democratic and independent voters leaning Democratic was conducted from Aug. 1-5. It has a margin of error or plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Other national polls released Tuesday also show Booker‘s support lagging.

A POLITICO/Morning Consult poll put Booker at just 1 percent, although 57 percent of respondents said his debate performance was “good” or “excellent.” And a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed him going from 1 percent to 3 percent support — within its margin of error of plus or minus 2 points.

Things aren’t any better for Booker in New Hampshire, the nation’s first primary state.

A Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll released Tuesday morning shows Booker at just 1 percent in New Hampshire, trailing Biden (21 percent), Sanders (17 percent), Warren (14 percent), Harris (8 percent), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (6 percent) and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii (3 percent).

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine