(Image source from: Vox)

Kamala Harris, the first Indian origin Senator, has surged to the second spot among more than 20 Democratic candidates eyeing the White House in the 2020 presidential run, according to a latest national opinion poll.

The former President of United States Joe Biden is still leading the pack of Democratic presidential aspirants with 22 percent of the vote, but his popularity rating has come down drastically following his miserable performance after the last week's first Democratic presidential debate.

Harris, 54, who outperformed Biden, 76, during the last week's Democratic presidential debate in Florida has surged ahead to the second spot with 22 percent of the votes, according to the Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University National opinion poll released on Tuesday.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren follows at 14 percent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is at 13 percent, and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg gets four percent, according to the opinion poll.

No other candidate tops three percent.

In the latest poll, Biden has a numerical lead among men with 22 percent.

But among women, Harris has a slight edge with 24 percent to Biden's 22 percent. The race is likewise close for white Democratic voters, with Biden at 21 percent, and both Warren and Harris at 20 percent.

"Harris also essentially catches Biden among black Democratic voters, a historically strong voting bloc for Biden, with Biden at 31 percent and Harris at 27 percent," the opinion poll said.

"Round 1 of the Democratic debates puts Harris and former Biden on two different trajectories, as support for Harris surges but continues to slip for Biden," Mary Snow, Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst, said.

The mother of Indian origin Senator was born in Tamil Nadu and father was an African-American from Jamaica. Harris launched her campaign in January for the U.S. presidential election in 2020 to take on Republican President Trump.

She had said that she was "honored" to announce her bid on a day when Americans celebrated Martin Luther King Jr who sought inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi.

If elected, Harris would be the first woman and woman of color to be the United States’ president.

Harris, who is the first black Senator from California, was elected as the U.S. Senator from California two years ago. At that time she had made a national presence for her taking a harsh stand against President Trump and his policies.

She is the fourth Democratic woman leader to enter the presidential race.

By Sowmya Sangam