A new national poll finds Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is leading the field of Republican presidential candidates in 2016, but two favorite sons from Florida are hot on his trail while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a heavy favorite for the Democratic nod.
Rasmussen Reports unveiled a poll on Wednesday which shows 21 percent of Republicans want Christie as their presidential nominee in 2016. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., places a close second with 18 percent. Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, the son and brother of former presidents, places third with 16 percent followed by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., with 15 percent. U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., best known for being Mitt Romneys running mate in 2012, takes 13 percent while fellow Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker takes 6 percent.
But the poll also finds Christie is also the most unpopular candidate with 31 percent of those surveyed, saying the New Jersey governor is their least favorite candidate for the GOPs nominee in 2016, while 16 percent say that about Paul and 15 say that about Bush. The other candidates garner less opposition with 9 percent saying Walker is their least favorite candidate, 6 percent pointing to Ryan and 5 percent saying Rubio is their least favorite Republican hopeful.
Among all voters -- Republicans, Democrats and independents -- Christie leads with 27 percent followed by Paul with 13 percent, Rubio with 11 percent and Bush with 10 percent. Only 7 percent of all voters want Ryan to win the Republican nomination while 6 percent say Walker.
Clintons status as the overwhelming favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 was confirmed in a Rasmussen poll released on Tuesday.
Clinton topped the poll with 63 percent. Vice President Joe Biden placed a distant second with 12 percent. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York took third with 5 percent. Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles took 3 percent while Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who announced at the end of last month he would not run, and Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley garnered 1 percent each.
Among all likely voters -- Democrats, Republicans and independents -- 39 percent say they want Clinton to win the nomination while Biden and Cuomo are the favorites of 7 percent each. Among all likely voters, 27 percent say Clinton is the candidate they least want to see win the nomination while 24 percent say that about Biden.
The poll finds voters are expecting it to be a close election but 42 percent think the Democrats have the edge while 36 percent think the Republican candidate will have the advantage in 2016.
The poll of 1,000 likely voters was taken Aug. 1-2 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
