Bloomberg has 3% support in new poll, tied with Harris

A new Reuters-Ipsos poll shows that if former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was to formally enter the Democratic primary race, he would be tied nationally with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)

Released Friday, the national poll shows Bloomberg and Harris tied at 3 percent. Ahead of them is South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 6 percent, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) at 13 percent, and former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) leading the pack at 19 percent each.

The 77-year-old billionaire had filed to appear on Democratic primary ballots in Alabama and Arkansas, but has yet to formally announce his bid. A Bloomberg representative declined Reuters request for comment.

The poll, conducted Nov. 12-14, did not include former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick who formally announced his campaign Thursday.

Bloomberg will have to work on his name recognition if he wants to secure the Democratic presidential nomination, as the poll showed that only 6 percent of poll respondents and 49 percent of Democrats were familiar with Bloomberg.

Even among Democratic voters who do know Bloomberg, only 57 percent view him favorably, which is below where the race’s presumed front-runners are polling, according to Reuters.