A new poll shows former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton runs neck and neck with former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., in Florida as the 2016 presidential race starts to take shape.
Quinnipiac University released its Swing State Poll on Tuesday looking at Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Clinton edges Bush 44 percent to 43 percent in the Sunshine State with a major gender gap in the works. Men go for Bush, 45 percent to 37 percent, while women prefer Clinton, 50 percent to 41 percent.
"There is a reason why Hillary Clinton has followed a slower, less aggressive schedule when it comes to ramping up her expected presidential campaign than have virtually all of her potential White House opponents," said Peter Brown, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll. "She holds double-digit leads over all her potential GOP opponents in the three biggest swing states, except for two native sons, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. And she is under little pressure from within her own party to hit the campaign trail.
But, while she is running close with Bush, the poll shows Clinton with a solid lead over other Republican contenders. Clinton beats U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., 49 percent to 39 percent. Against U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Clinton leads 50 percent to 38 percent. Matched up against former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., Clinton takes 51 percent while 34 percent back the Republican. Clinton leads Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., 51 percent to 33 percent. Against former Gov. Mitt Romeny, R-Mass., Clinton led 50 percent to 37 percent. Romney announced on Friday he would not make a third bid for the presidency.
Clinton is seen as favorable by a majority -- 53 percent -- of those surveyed while 39 percent view her as unfavorable. Bush is seen in a favorable light by 46 percent while 38 percent see him as unfavorable. Paul is seen as favorable by 30 percent and unfavorable by 25 percent. Rubio is treading water with 36 percent seeing him as favorable while the same percentage view him as unfavorable. The same holds true of Huckabee, with 31 percent seeing him as favorable and the same percentage seeing him as unfavorable. Christie is upside down with only 28 percent seeing him as favorable while 41 percent view him as unfavorable.
Clinton ties with Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, in Quinnipiacs look at Ohio while holding commanding leads over the other Republicans. In Pennsylvania, she trashes the various Republican candidates -- including favorite son former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.
"Not surprisingly, Mrs. Clinton's worst state among the three is Florida, Brown said. In the trial heat against the Sunshine State's former governor, Jeb Bush, she and he are statistically tied.
The poll of 936 Florida voters was taken from Jan. 22-Feb. 1 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
