Joe Biden storms ahead of Bernie Sanders in poll in Arizona on eve of Super Tuesday III

Joe Biden holds a 20 point lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders in Arizona, as the former vice president continues to consolidate his leading position in the race in advance of Tuesday primaries.

Biden has achieved majority support in the poll, leading Sanders by 51 per cent to 31 percent, with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawai down at 1 per cent.

Biden also leads President Trump in the Republican-leaning state by 46 to 43 per cent, according to the new Monmouth University poll.

Biden opened up a huge national lead over the Democratic socialist, leading him 61 to 32 in an NBC News / Wall Street Journal poll released Sunday.  The polls reflect the astonishing speed with which Biden has seized control of the race, after scoring overwhelming wins in South Carolina, on Super Tuesday, and in other states, and having key rivals drop out and endorse him.

Arizona is one of a group of key states voting Marcy 17th. It includes Ohio, Florida and Illinois and is the third big batch of states to vote in concert.

Biden has achieved poll leads of more than 20 points each in all of the vote-rich states – putting him in position to score a decisive win  

Joe Biden has amassed big polling leads in states set to vote Tuesday

Bernie Sanders trails Biden in pre-election polls in all of the states voting Tuesday

President Trump is facing new headwinds amid the coronavirus outbreak and a collapsing stock market

The two men clashed in a debate on CNN Sunday night, in an appearance that was more contentious than some political observers had predicted. Biden on several occasions sought to highlight areas of agreement and talked up his coronavirus response plan, while Sanders brought up his past vote for the Iraq war and statements on health care and Social Security.

Nevertheless, Sanders said he would ultimately support Biden if he becomes the Democratic nominee.