ST. PAUL, Minn. -- If you love a good come-from-behind story, right now you're getting a two-for-one in the 2016 presidential race.
Ben Carson and Bernie Sanders have both surged toward the head of the pack in their parties, challenging party front-runners Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, according to a pair of new NBC News/Marist polls.
"Totally unpredictable," said David Schultz, political science professor at Hamline University. "Huge swings, and anticipate seeing more of that in the next few months."
Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has struck new-found popularity amongst democrats. Sanders leads Hillary Clinton by 41%-32% in New Hampshire, pretty much a reverse from the July poll. And in Iowa, Clinton's lead over Sanders has dropped more than half since July, now at 11 points.
"Maybe Hilary fatigue at this point. Maybe the inability to put to arrest the Benghazi email scandals surrounding her," said Schultz. "The bigger story is how he gained on Clinton in Iowa and nationally in polls he's gaining on Clinton."
Another poll shows Donald Trump currently leading Republican races in Iowa and New Hampshire, but retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson moved up to the number two spot in Iowa, according to the NBC News/Marist poll. Trump captured 29% support, followed by Carson with 22%. They are the only two GOP candidates to hit double digits in the poll.
"Trump is sort of the tea party, anti-immigrant wing of the party. Ben Carson is speaking to the social conservative, the religious wing of the party, frustrated again, with things like same sex marriage," said Schultz.
Schultz believes tighter poll numbers could bring more national value and relevance to Minnesota's caucuses, which are slated for March 1st, aka Super Tuesday.
There's another person polling well in the democratic race who isn't actually in the race yet—Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden polled as more "favorable" than any other candidate but hasn't announced he is running yet.
