Clinton's Lead Over Sanders Shrinks in New California Poll

Bernie Sanders is catching up with Hillary Clinton in California’s Democratic presidential race. A new Field Poll out Friday morning shows Sanders trailing Clinton by 6 points -- 47 percent to 41 percent -- among likely Democratic primary voters. His deficit was 11 points in January.

Another 12 percent are undecided with less than two months to go before California’s June 7 primary.

Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo says the results suggest the Vermont senator’s attacks have hurt the former secretary of state.

"Sanders has been wounding Clinton as this campaign has progressed," DiCamillo says. "Her image rating among Sanders supporters back in January was much more positive than it is now. So Sanders' punches have been connecting."

The poll shows Clinton and Sanders have support from similar groups in California, as they do nationally -- and both have room to grow because some voters in their core groups remain undecided. It also shows Latinos under 40 strongly support Sanders, while those over 40 overwhelmingly back Clinton.

“I don’t think either of them really are at a ceiling, and the question really will boil down to what will the turnout look like?" says DiCamillo. “Can the candidates get their own supporters to the polls? Turnout will be a huge factor.”

Meanwhile, on the Republican side, Thursday's Field Poll showed Donald Trump with a 39 percent to 32 percent lead over Ted Cruz in California, with John Kasich trailing at 18 percent.

[DemPrefTrend]

California Counts is a collaboration of KPBS, KPCC, KQED and Capital Public Radio to report on the 2016 election. The coverage focuses on major issues and solicits diverse voices on what’s important to the future of California.