Poll: Buttigieg surges into contention with Biden, Sanders

South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete ButtigiegPeter (Pete) Paul ButtigiegWhy Democrats must nominate a moderate presidential candidate Poll: Biden holds lead over 2020 Democratic field 2020 Dems condemn bigotry, gun violence after synagogue shooting MORE has surged into the top tier of candidates in the Democratic presidential primary, according to a new poll.

The online survey from Change Research, a left-leaning polling outlet, finds former Vice President Joe BidenJoseph (Joe) Robinette BidenCNN's Jake Tapper presses Conway on Trump's Charlottesville response: Was it 'perfect?' Why Democrats must nominate a moderate presidential candidate Seth Moulton: Biden should apologize to Anita Hill MORE at 21 percent support, followed by Sen. Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersWhy Democrats must nominate a moderate presidential candidate Partygoers promote favorite candidates at The Young Turks event Poll: Biden holds lead over 2020 Democratic field MORE (I-Vt.) at 20 percent and Buttigieg at 17 percent.

That’s a 15-point gain for Buttigieg in the past month, according to the poll, while Biden has fallen by 15 points and Sanders shed 4 points in the same survey.

Still, the Change Research poll finds Buttigieg polling much higher than other surveys. He is at 9 percent in an Emerson College survey and 7 percent in a Morning Consult poll, both released this week. 

Buttigieg was relatively unknown nationally before a CNN town hall event last month caught the attention of Washington insiders and spurred growing buzz surrounding the 37-year-old Midwest mayor.

In the past few weeks, Buttigieg has become a media sensation and a serious contender, raising $7 million in the first quarter and landing several coveted donors who previously raised millions of dollars for the Obama-Biden ticket.

No other candidate is polling in double-digits in the Change Research survey beyond Biden, Sanders and Buttigieg.

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke is at 9 percent, followed by Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenPoll: Biden holds lead over 2020 Democratic field Advocates push 2020 Dems to address Social Security reform Questions surround Facebook's possible billion-dollar fines MORE (Mass.) and Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisWhy Democrats must nominate a moderate presidential candidate Poll: Biden holds lead over 2020 Democratic field Advocates push 2020 Dems to address Social Security reform MORE (Calif.), at 8 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

The Change Research poll of 2,518 likely Democratic primary voters was conducted April 12-15 and has a 2.2 percentage point margin of error.