A new poll from Monmouth University shows Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders quickly closing in on frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

In the latest national poll, 1,003 likely Democratic voters were asked whom they would support for the presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton only received 52 percent of the vote, a decrease from last month's 59 percent. By contrast, Sanders got 37 percent support in the poll, a substantial jump from December's 26 percent.

Underdog Martin O'Malley trailed far behind with 2 percent support.

This is the first time Clinton has a lead with less than 20 points in a Monmouth poll. In the last month, the Democratic front-runner has dropped in every major voting bloc. Her most significant loss has been in the field of self-proclaimed liberals, who now favor Sanders over the former New York senator and secretary of state, 42 percent to 51 percent. In December, Clinton was favored 57 percent to 21 percent in that category.

Clinton has also lost ground with women voters, maintaining a much smaller lead of 54 percent to 35 percent, when compared to last month's 69 percent to 19 percent margin. Voters under the age of 50 have also shifted support, with Clinton dropping from 52 percent to 35 percent, to 39 percent to 52 percent.

Sanders, however, still trails significantly among two major groups. Clinton has a comfortable 64 percent to 24 percent lead with voters over 50, who compose the majority of the primary electorate.

In addition to that, black and Latino voters heavily favor Clinton. The latest poll shows Clinton at a 71 percent to 21 percent advantage, an increase from her 61 percent to 18 percent lead in December.

Although Sanders' recent surge in Iowa and New Hampshire is likely to give him a chance in the primary race, Monmouth University Polling Institute director Patrick Murray believes he will have to overcome Clinton in those key demographics to stand a true chance.

"Sanders is aided by the fact that most Super Tuesday contests are open to independent voters -- a group where he performs well," Murray said in the Monmouth report.

"On the other hand, about two-thirds of the pledged delegates awarded on March will be from states where black and Latino voters comprise anywhere from one-third to a majority of the electorate. It looks like the demographic dynamic that hurt Clinton in 2008 may be what helps her in 2016."

Equally significant, is the fact that Democratic voters believe Clinton will have a greater shot at taking down Trump (or whoever secures the Republican nomination) come November. Some 44 percent of people polled think Clinton will have the best chance at beating Trump, whereas only 16 percent favor Sanders.

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