Iowa Caucuses 2020: Leap in late-deciders as youngsters flock to back Sanders, shows NBC News poll

Sanders is emerging as the top choice for caucusgoers under 30, while Biden is a clear favorite among senior voters

UPDATED FEB 4, 2020

Nearly one-third of the Iowa caucusgoers participating in the state's Democratic presidential caucuses on Monday evening waited until the last few days to decide on which candidate they want to support, according to early results from the entrance poll conducted by the NBC News.

The latest poll showed a significant increase from four years ago in 2016, when a mere 16 percent of the caucusgoers in the state waited this long to decide on their favorite candidate.

Campaign material is seen at a campaign field office of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) February 3, 2020, in Ankeny, Iowa. Iowans will pick their choices for Democratic presidential candidate at the state caucuses this evening, the first in the primary season. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is emerging as the top choice for caucusgoers under 30 in today's caucuses, while former Vice-President Joe Biden appears to be a favorite among the candidates above the age of 65.

Among senior voters, however, Biden appears to have a clear edge, capturing the support of nearly four in 10 participants age 65 and over, followed by Buttigieg, Warren and then Sanders.

The outlet's early entrance polls show four leading candidates among Democrats as doors close for the caucuses to begin. Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are all contesting for the lead, although a clear winner has not been determined.

The latest poll by the outlet also found out that Sanders, who almost tied with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Iowa caucus, continues to keep the support of just over half of his Iowan backers. He has the continued support of at least 56 percent of the voters who caucused for him four years ago. While the remaining are now divided between three key candidates: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden.

The polls also noted a significant dip in the number of participants attending a Democratic caucus for the first time, compared to previous years in Iowa Caucuses. Just about a third of those caucusing this year are first-timers, the number is considerably lower than in 2016.