'Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is the clear second place contender for the party's nomination as 2019 draws to a close, with an aggregate of national polls showing him several points ahead of progressive rival Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and double digits above Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana.

The Real Clear Politics average of national polls through December 19, showed former Vice President Joe Biden with a commanding lead, as he held 27.8 percent of support among Democratic primary voters. Sanders followed with 19.3 percent, while Warren lagged about 4 points behind with 15.2 percent and Buttigieg trailed in the single digits with just 8.3 percent. Notably, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire who entered the race just last month, is polling at 5 percent, in fifth place overall.

Candidates have begun vying to take an early lead as the nomination process officially kicks off with the Iowa caucuses on February 3, followed by the New Hampshire primary on February 11. In both states, Sanders appears within potential striking range of clinching the most delegates ahead of the Democratic National Convention.'