Clinton edges Sanders in Wisconsin straw poll

The Bernie Sanders campaign is claiming another sign of success in their long-shot effort to topple Hillary Clinton -- a closer-than-expected straw poll among Wisconsin Democrats.

Clinton won the unscientific straw poll conducted during the weekend convention of Wisconsin Democrats, but only by 49%-41% over the insurgent Sanders.

"The Wisconsin straw poll -- and huge turnouts at town meetings in New Hampshire and Iowa -- are sending a message that people care about real issues like income inequality and the collapse of the American middle class,” said Jeff Weaver, the campaign manager for Sanders.

The poll featured a small sample to be sure -- Clinton won the support of 252 of 511 delegates at the Wisconsin Democratic conclave; Sanders got 208 votes.

Other Democratic presidential prospects finished well back (including the undeclared Elizabeth Warren, who received four write-in votes).

The final tally, according to WisPolitics.com:

Hillary Clinton 252

Bernie Sanders 208

Joe Biden 16

Martin O’Malley 16

Jim Webb 8

Lincoln Chafee 5

No vote 1

Write-ins:

Elizabeth Warren 4

Tom Vilsack 1