Colorado’s Michael Bennet – who campaigned in Iowa over the weekend with supporters holding a big gavel to make a point about pounding truth into the Democratic primary race for president – got pounded in a new poll of Iowa voters.

In the Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll, released Saturday, 602 likely Democratic attendees of next February’s first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses were asked for their first choice for president.

Bennet, the Democratic U.S. senator from Colorado who has made Iowa a focus, scored 0% after rounding.

The survey, conducted by Seltzer & Co. on Sept. 14-18, showed Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren out front with 22% support, the first time she has led the Register Iowa survey series, edging former Vice President Joe Biden, favored by 20%.

Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, at 11%, was the only other candidate with support in the double digits in the survey.

Also polling ahead of Bennet were South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (9%); U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California (6%); U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Cory Booker of New Jersey (both at 3%); U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas, businessman Tom Steyer and entrepreneur Andrew Yang (all at 2%); and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, former U.S. housing secretary Julián Castro and former U.S. Rep. John Delaney of Maryland (all at 1%).  

Joining Bennet at 0% was author Marianne Williamson, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (who pulled out of the race Friday), U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, and former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania.

Bennet had scored 1% in a Register/CNN/Mediacom survey of Iowa Democrats released in June, although that poll used different methodology.

Bennet entered the presidential race in May, staking out a position as a practical, problem-solving moderate in a field featuring a number of farther-left candidates.

The Coloradan, who was excluded from the most recent debate of Democratic candidates for president because of low polling and fundraising numbers, has zeroed in on Iowa as he seeks to gain ground in the race.

Last week — about the time the latest Register survey was wrapping up — his campaign announced it was spending north of $1 million on a series of TV and digital ads targeting Iowa.

Bennet’s big gavel, featured during an appearance Saturday at the Polk County (Iowa) Steak Fry, played off an Aug. 19 Register editorial that said “Bennet pounds some truth into the campaign.”

“Iowa caucusgoers – even those supporting other candidates – would be well-served to give Bennet more attention,” the editorial said. “He offers a much-needed reality check on the promises candidates are offering and what it will take to accomplish meaningful change.”

Saturday, Bennet talked about a strategy to defeat President Donald Trump next year and accomplish change. (See video below.)

“Iowa, you are hearing a lot of plans from a lot of people. But what I hear people ask me in my town halls here is: How are you going to get it done with those guys back in Washington? How are you going to get it done? And I’ve got an answer for that,” he said in quotes provided by his campaign.

If there is any sunshine for Bennet in the new Iowa poll results, it’s that 1% of Iowa Democrats surveyed said he’s their second choice among the party’s candidates, and 8% said they were “actively considering” Bennet as a candidate even though he was not their first or second choice for president. But those figures still put him behind 14 other candidates.

And 63% of those surveyed said they could still switch to another candidate between now and February.

As for polling of Democrats nationwide, Bennet averages 0.8% support in recent surveys tracked by Real Clear Politics. He posted 1% results in three national surveys conducted Sept. 13 or later for Fox News, the Economist/YouGov and NBC News/The Wall Street Journal.

Biden has been the consistent front runner in almost all national surveys since entering the race.

Bennet “remains laser focused on running a campaign that can defeat Donald Trump in a general election and help down-ballot Democrats win across the country,” his campaign said in a statement.

Michael Bennet Speaks at the Polk County Democrats Steak Fry in Iowa

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