A new poll shows Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with a 9-point lead over rival Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire less than three weeks away from the state primary election.

A Suffolk University Political Research Center poll released Friday shows Sanders with 50 percent of support from likely voters in the state's Democratic primary on Feb. 9, while 41 percent are backing Clinton. Meanwhile, 2 percent said they are standing with former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley at 2 percent and 6 percent were still undecided.

"Everybody has been talking about the divide in the Republican party for months, but there is a real struggle also going on within the Democratic Party," said said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, according to The Boston Globe.

The survey, which was conducted from Jan. 19 to 21, shows the Vermont senator received a higher favorability rating than Clinton: 80 percent said they had a favorable opinion of him, while 12 percent gave him an unfavorable rating. In comparison, 71 percent of voters viewed Clinton favorably while 23 percent had an unfavorable opinion of her.

Although Sanders has a high favorability among likely Democratic voters, more said that their stance on gun control is aligned with the former first lady: 44 percent back Clinton on the issue and 30 percent stand with Sanders. In addition, 60 percent of voters believe Clinton would is better suited to defeat the Republican nominee in the general election while less than half -- 27 percent -- think Sanders could win the White House.

"Familiarity and favorability are winning the day for Bernie Sanders," said Paleologos in a press release. "But given voters' thoughts about the gun control issue and who is more likely to win in November, the Clinton campaign might gain by pointing out Sanders' vulnerabilities in these areas."

Sanders' surge in the polls in being bolstered by independent voters, which make up almost one-third of the state's electorate and can participate in either party's ballot in the primary.

When surveyed, 60 percent of independents said they would back Sanders compared with just 24 percent who said they would back Clinton.

"New Hampshire Democrats are grappling with a number of issues, but for now Sanders is the clear choice," concluded Paleologos.

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