Buttigieg, Sanders rise in final poll ahead of Iowa caucuses

DES MOINES — Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) hold a slim lead in a last-minute poll of Iowa Democratic voters released Monday, showing a close-fought race just hours before the caucus doors open.

The new poll, conducted for the Democratic group Focus on Rural America by party pollster David Binder, found Buttigieg leading the field with 19 percent of the vote. Sanders trailed with 17 percent of the vote, a statistically insignificant disadvantage.

Both gained 3 points since the last Focus on Rural America poll, conducted in early January.